Chicken Inn add on to Mafu’s woes

Sport
CHICKEN INN yesterday returned to the summit of the Castle Lager Premier Soccer League standings and claimed the bragging rights in Bulawayo after putting up a brilliant display to beat city rivals Highlanders in an exciting match at Barbourfields yesterday.

CHICKEN INN yesterday returned to the summit of the Castle Lager Premier Soccer League standings and claimed the bragging rights in Bulawayo after putting up a brilliant display to beat city rivals Highlanders in an exciting match at Barbourfields yesterday.

BY FORTUNE MBELE CHICKEN INN (1) 2 HIGHLANDERS (1) 1

The win, which put Chicken Inn back on the driving seat on the log standings awaiting the FC Platinum and Triangle match at Mandava today, has also thrust Bosso head coach Bongani Mafu’s job under threat as the Bulawayo giants’ fans continued chanting slogans against the gaffer.

Canaan Nkomo lit up the afternoon for the GameCocks as early as the sixth minute after being set up by Edmore Chirambadare, who had dispossessed Bosso skipper Felix Chindungwe on the left.

Highlanders replied through right-back Simon Munawa in the 35th minute after he collected a pass from substitute Knox Mutizwa, who otherwise had a brilliant game after replacing injured Gabriel Nyoni in the 13th minute.

Chirambadare sealed the game with his sixth goal of the season, capitalising on a goalmouth scramble after Bosso goalkeeper Takunda Mutanga spilled the ball onto his feet inside the box.

But Mafu still puts up a brave face despite his third loss at Barbourfields.

“They [Chicken Inn] scored the goals but they did not play the football. We lost the game. We gifted them with the goals,” Mafu said.

The Highlanders gaffer admitted he was under pressure saying the Bosso fans’ slogans against him were only natural as they wanted the team to win.

His counterpart at Chicken Inn, Joey Antipas was ecstatic with the win.

“It was a good result for us considering we are coming from two draws back-to-back. We deserved the points. We controlled the game in the second half and we just need to continue working hard,” Antipas said.

Obadiah Tarumbwa tried but could not get the goals while Thomas Chideu was out of the game.