Arenel Movers hold league champions Ngezi Platinum
Arenel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0 Ngezi Platinum . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0
CASTLE LAGER Premier Soccer League debutants Arenel Movers announced their arrival in top-flight football with a powerful statement of intent.
The debutants held the reigning and defending champions, Ngezi Platinum, to a goalless draw at Luveve Stadium yesterday.
Both teams will rue the missed chances they had as early as the seventh minute when Ngezi Platinum’s Claude Mapoka skied his effort over the bar from point-blank range.
A few minutes later, it was the hosts’ turn as Arenel skipper Zibusiso Dambo failed to convert multiple times in the Ngezi box.
Reigning Soccer Star of the Year Qadr Amini and Ngezi forward Claude Mapoka put up quite a fine show during the first half
United . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (0) 0 Chicken Inn . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (1) 1
JOEY ANTIPAS marked his return to the Chicken Inn dugout yesterday with a hard-fought win over
United during the opening day of the 2024 Castle Lager Premiership season at Bata Stadium.
The experienced gaffer spent the last season as the club’s technical director, while Prince Matore took charge of the Gamecocks. But with his protege Matore leaving the Bulawayo side at the end of last season, Antipas bounced back to the helm.
In yesterday’s match, ltai Mabunu’s fine header two minutes before the break made sure it was a good return for Antipas, who is now in his third stint as the head coach at Chicken Inn.
Makepekepe would have wrapped up the match in the first half had it not been for the brilliance of Chicken Inn goalkeeper Donovan Bernard, who kept the visitors in the game.
The Warriors’number one made several pin-point saves in the opening minutes.
“CAPS created very good chances but our goalkeeper managed to keep us in but still failed to produce any results.
Arenel Movers’ head coach Farai Tawachera could not help but smile at his boys’ effort, as they held the champions.
“We knew it was not going to be an easy game, and we went all out in preparation for this opening game,” he said.
“Mentally, the boys were ready as we knew what we were getting into and had talked about it. I did not want them to panic, and I am happy they kept their composure for the full 90 minutes,” he said.
Tawachera said he knew Ngezi’s game, hence they had to be tactical.
His opposite number on the Ngezi Platinum bench, Takesure Chiragwi, gave credit to Arenel Movers and acknowledged that his side fluffed when they got several chances.
“We played a good game but failed to put to good use some key chances that we created,” he said.
“While it is a good thing that we created countless chances, we could not penetrate their defence as they were very solid. Credit goes to the youngsters; they played well.
“This was the first game of the season and a point away from home is not too bad. We will just have to build on from here,” he said.
Teams Ngezi Platinum Stars:
C. Mariyoni, K. Chigwida, P. Moyo, Q. Amini, T. Benhura (Musariranwa, 67th minute), G. Madhake (Makumbe N, 67th minute), T. Mashaireni, L. Kashitigu (Demera M, 71st minute), F. Madhanhanga, C. Mapoka (E. Hweha, 87the minute), R. Hachiro.
N. Aaron, D. Gabriel, G. Brian, J. Moses, C. Cedric, J. Brian, D. Zibusiso (Munkuli, 71st minute); K. Gray, M. Chrispen (Kudzaishe D, 91st minute), J. Timothy.