BANTU ROVERS . . . . . . . . . . .0 CHICKEN INN . . . . . . . . . (2)5
A YOUTHFUL Bantu Rovers got a rude awakening on their return to the Premier Soccer League when they were thumped by former champions Chicken Inn in their season opener at Luveve Stadium yesterday.
BY FORTUNE MBELE
Chicken Inn scored two goals in the first half against a hapless Bantu Rovers which had veteran Tapiwa Kumbuyani in central defence, with Innocent Mucheneka scoring the opener in the 18th minute.
Obadiah Tarumbwa easily tucked in the ball past goalkeeper Ndodana Sibanda 10 minutes later after he was set up by the evergreen veteran midfielder Clemence Matawu.
Bantu Rovers appeared to have held Chicken Inn for the better part of the second half, until the 85th minute when Tafadzwa Kutinyu scored the third for the GameCocks after he was sent through by Tarumbwa, who got injured in the process and was replaced by Ishmael Lawe.
Coming from the bench, Lawe buried Bantu Rovers, scoring two quick goals in the optional time, the first in the third minute of added time after Sibanda spilled a substitute Thomas Kadyaridzire’s effort.
Bantu Rovers were dispossessed just from the centre a minute later and Lawe made a solo run to beat Sibanda again before referee Nduna Nkosana blew to end the match.
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Chicken Inn coach Rahman Gumbo was excited about the good start to the season.
“We are on the right track and it’s continuity for us as we finished strongly last season. I don’t think Bantu Rovers really threatened us and we could have seen a rugby scoreline here. This gives confidence to my team,” Gumbo said.
Interim Bantu Rovers coach Methembe Ndlovu said his charges would improve with time.
“Congratulations to the winning team; they played very well. We played our best, but it did not go well for us. Our target is to keep improving and get better with every game,” Ndlovu said.
TEAMS
BANTU ROVERS: N Sibanda, D Mubayiwa, J Nsingo, M Chitambwe, T Kumbuyani, L Ndlela, B Sibanda, N Garayi (M Mlangeni 36’), M Kutsanzira (G Bharibhari 75’), O Chirinda, N Sianchali (N Mpofu 83’)
CHICKEN INN: P Zendera, P Bernard, D Lunga, M Jackson, T Hadebe, T Goredema, I Mucheneka, K Gurure (G Majika 66’), C Matawu, T Kutinyu (T Kadyaridzire 87’), O Tarumbwa (I Lawe 87’)
