Where art thou, O Prophet?
Bantu Rovers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .0 Chicken Inn. . . . . . . . . . . . . . (2) 5 FORMER Castle Lager Premier Soccer League champions Chicken Inn sent some early warning shots yesterday with a ruthless thumping of neighbours Bantu Rovers at Luveve yesterday.
The 2015 champions got their goals from Ismael Lawe (brace), Obadiah Tarumbwa, Tafadzwa Kutinyu, Innocent Mucheneka and veteran forward Obadiah Tarumbwa.
The Gamecocks have not featured prominently in the pre-season championship talk but with the bulk of the team that won the title under Joey “Mafero” Antipas still available Rahman Gumbo and his men have every reason to be confident. Harare City. . . . . . . . . . . . .. . .0 Yadah FC. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0 YADAH FC technical adviser Prophet Walter Magaya was missing from the bench as the Castle Lager Premiership debutantes held Harare City at the National Sports Stadium yesterday.
However, the absence of Magaya gave one starlet a chance to steal the show.
Leeroy Mavunga was the toast of the afternoon as the teenager ran rings around the Harare City defenders much to the crowd’s delight and it was unfortunate that he could not cap the fine show with a goal.
Yadah FC coach Jairos Tapera was full of praise for his charges and singled out Mavunga for special mention.
“We have a good foundation to work on,” said Tapera. “We had two or three chances which I think we should have taken and scored maybe one. I am happy with his (Mavunga)
A youthful Bantu Rovers outfit is certainly not the toughest team Chicken Inn will face this season but the yesterday’s impressive start to the season would have done their confidence a world of good.
Meanwhile, Tsholotsho failed to score or collect maximum points at their adopted home as they played out a goalless draw with Hwange at Dulivhadzimu in Beitbridge yesterday.
Tsholotsho, who lost their coach Lizwe Sweswe to FC Platinum in the offseason, could have fallen in the late stages but goalie Marion Chang saved the day when he parried away Shepherd Patsikwa’s stinging shot in the 77th minute.
New recruit Canaan Nkomo, formerly of Chicken Inn and Bruno Madanhire had Tsholotsho’s best chances soon after the restart but his shooting was wild if performance. He is one for the future. A future national team player, if I may say,” he said.
City used the match to prove Mike “Dread” Madzivanyika was the real not comical.
Tsholotsho substitute Mustafa Ponyera spurned a great chance in the 49th minute.
Former Highlanders skipper Felix Chindungwe is now at Tsholotsho FC, who are now coached by Farai Tawachera, but the dreadlocked defender did not play a part yesterday.
Chindungwe’s experience will be key is Iziqholo Zezhwane are to survive relegation again this season.
Hwange, who lost top scorer Gift Mbweti to FC Platinum and Pritchard Mpelele to Harare City, fielded a largely unknown side but with Nation Dube back on the bench the coal miners cannot be underrated this term.
There was commotion before the start of the match as fans believed to be of head coach and not a decoy after he was elevated to take over from Mkhupali Masuku, who doesn’t have the mandatory CAF A coaching license.
Masuku was glued to the bench for former premiership side Border Strikers threatened to remove nets and goal posts.
The fans were protesting against the barring of their relegated team to train at Dulivhadzimu stadium.
The stadium is now being leased to Iziqholo zeZhwane by the local authority.
Things got back to normal when Tsholotsho FC offered to hire the nets from Border strikers for $ 50. Chapungu 0-0 Triangle Yadah 0-0 Harare City Tsholotsho FC 0-0 Hwange Ngezi Platinum Stars 1-0 Black Rhinos Bantu Rovers 0-5 Chicken Inn ZPC Kariba 1-0 How Mine the entire duration of the match as Madzivanyika barked instructions as a head coach ought to.
The former Black Aces midfielder also faced the media in post-match interviews.
“We have a lot of work to do to get to where we want,” said Madzivanyika. “But it’s only our first match and we will keep on working hard.” Teams Harare City: M Nyamupanedengu, T Chimwemwe, P Mpelele, J Tigere, R Uchena, E Madhanhanga, J Jam, P Kabwe (Tumba, 89’), M Vengesai (W Muvirimi, 55’), M Gaki, T Balakasi (G Kufandada, 89’)
Yadah: T Dube, M Demera, B Chikwenya, J Dzingai, R Dongo, B Mapfumo, W Kamudyariwa, D Svanhu, L Mavunga (M Meleka, 78’), M Musiyakuvi (L Murape, 49’), J Sibanda (L Chibwiro, 90’)