Chicken Inn were brought down to earth, FC Platinum shot to the top while Black Rhinos registered their first win in Match Day 2 of the Castle Lager Premier Soccer League on Saturday.

Thriller at Maglas

FC Platinum . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (2)3

Bantu Rovers . . . . . . . . . . . . . (1)2

RETURNEES Bantu Rovers were involved in a high scoring Castle Lager Premier Soccer League match for the second weekend in a row but unlike last Saturday they left the park with their heads held high.

It was indeed a thriller at Maglas, FC Platinum’s adopted home.

In their opening game Bantu Rovers were thumped 5-0 by Chicken Inn and they found themselves on the losing end again yesterday as the home side powered to the second win on the bounce following the opening day 1-0 win away to Dynamos.

However, Methembe Ndlovu’s youthful side really caught the eye, giving as much as they got against a side that is touted by some as one of the championship favourites.

FC Platinum were the quickest to settle and opened the scoring with the just five minutes on the clock, Charles Sibanda opening the scoring after some good build up play.

Rodwell Chinyengetere made it 2-0 on 16 minutes before completing his brace from the penalty midway through the second half.

Newman Sianchali and Bukhosi Sibanda, from the penalty spot, were on target for the visitors who took the game to their more fancied opponents in the second half.

Talent Chawapihwa, who was publicly criticised by Norman Mapeza for a shoddy show against DeMbare, replaced Marshal Mudehwe early in the second half but the Pure Platinum Play newboy never got the chance to make an impression.

With Bantu Rovers coming out with guns blazing Chawapihwa was forced to put in a defensive shift as his team sought to play on the counter.

Mapeza conceded that the visitors gave his team a good run for their money and once reiterated his call for unity.

“I was not very happy with our defending; we need to work on that. We also need to work hard on our final execution.

“I read somewhere I was given ultimatum to win the league but that is not true, someone just wants me fired and I don’t know why,” he said.

Ndlovu lauded his charges for a much improved show.

“I am very happy with our performance; it shows that we are improving. I also want to congratulate FC Platinum, they have a very good side,” he said.

Teams

FC Platinum: P Mhari, E Moyo, K Moyo, G Bello, I Nekati, W Mhango, N Masuku, R Chinyengetere (G Takwara 77 mins), M Mudehwe (T Chawapihwa 55 mins), C Sibanda (A Murimba 86 mins), G Mbweti

Bantu Rovers: S. Chimusoro, J. Nsingo, J. Mubayiwa, S. Nyahwa, T. Kumbuyani, M. Chitambwe, N. Garayi, G. Bharibahri, L. Ndlela, B. Sibanda, N. Sianchali

City Feast At Chicken Inn

Bulawayo City. . . . . . . . . . . . (1)2

Chicken Inn. . . . . . . . . . . . . .(0)1

AFTER registering the biggest win on Match Day One last weekend, Chicken Inn coach Rahman Gumbo publicly yearned for a five-game winning streak but on Saturday his charges were brought down to earth by city rivals Bulawayo City at Barbourfields.

The Gamecocks failed to build onto their 5-0 drubbing of Bantu Rovers last weekend as they fell to a City side they have failed to beat in three attempts since the municipality club’s promotion into the top flight last season.

Bulawayo City scored through veteran striker Mkhokheli Dube and Kevin Madzongwe while Chicken Inn responded through substitute Thomas Kadyaridzire in a see-sawing Castle Lager Premier Soccer League match.

Dube thrust Bulawayo City ahead in the 29th minute when he fired home from inside the box before Kadyaridzire – who had come on for Obadiah Tarumbwa – equalized in the 76th minute.

However, Madzongwe made sure Bulawayo City maintain their dominance over Chicken Inn when he finished off a spill by the Gamecocks’ stand in keeper Pride Zendera in the 80th minute.

Last season, Chicken Inn lost both league matches against Bulawayo City by an identical 1-0 score line.

In the end, Bulawayo City picked up their first set of three points after losing their opener against Highlanders 0-2 at the same venue last Sunday.

2015 league champions Chicken Inn remain on three points but they are still the Premiership’s highest scorers so far with six goals.

Next up for Gumbo’s boys is a tough home fixture against FC Platinum while Bulawayo City will travel to Zvishavane for a date with Shabanie Mine at Maglas.

Bulawayo City: L. Chirava, M. Kadzola, Z. Sibanda, N. Mukumbi, M. Mungadze, K. Madzongwe, R. Pavari, B. Ncube, H. Masuku, M. Moyo, M. Dube

Chicken Inn: P. Zendera, P. Bernard, D. Lunga, M. Jackson, T. Hadebe, T. Goredema, I. Mucheneka, K. Gurure, C. Matawu, T. Kutinyu, O. Tarumbwa (T. Kadyaridzire)

Linyama Is Super

Black Rhinos. . . . . . . . . . . . . . (1) 1

Chapungu . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .0

DEFENDER Sydney Linyama scored the winner for Black Rhinos at the National Sports Stadium on Saturday and vowed to let his game do most of the talking.

The former Dynamos man nodded home in the 41st minute, from a Farai Banda free kick, as the army side bounced back from last weekend’s defeat away to Ngezi Platinum.

Linyama is as controversial as they come and was offloaded by DeMbare in the offseason amid accusations of being the leader of a cartel of ill-disciplined players.

He unsuccessfully tried to rejoin before Chicken Inn before popping up at Chipembere where Coach Stanford “Stix” Mtizwa decided to give him a chance.

And on Saturday Mtizwa was all smiles after his new boy secured maximum points.

“We are happy with three points as we are coming from a defeat; the defeat against Ngezi was a painful one because we outclassed Ngezi.

“We should finish at least in the top four, Rhinos used to be a top team and we want those days back. We are here to stay,” said the Rhinos coach.

Linyama promised more match winning shows.

“I am happy at Rhinos, work is work and I have to deliver. I think people judged me wrongly and I will let my football prove them wrong,” said the lanky defender.

Chapungu have gone for 180 minutes without a goal after a goalless draw against Triangle at home last week and their new coach Tendai Chikuni, who looks set to have Rodwell Dhlakama as his technical director, is concerned.

“We need to go back to the drawing board and come up with a new strategy for the next game. Definitely as a coach you have to be very corncened when you go for 180 minutes without a goal,” he said.

Black Rhinos : H Rusawo, J Mukombwe, F Banda, B Homora, S Linyama, W Kapinda, D Mudadi, C Chitsamba (T Ajana 58th), L Saramaya (V Mhandu 63th), B Marere,Y Salima

Chapungu: C Mativenga, R Sibanda, B Zabula, C Kwaramba, L Gent, Ian Nyoni, X Ncube, K Bingala (B Musahondo 59th), N Papias (A Tavarwisa 60th), T Chitora

How Mine held at home

How Mine. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (1) 1

Tsholotsho. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .(0) 1

HOW MINE have made their Castle Lager Premier Soccer League championship ambitions known but the gold miners will have to drastically improve if that dream is to turn into realist.

At Luveve Kelvin Kaindu’s team, who lost 0-1 away to ZPC Kariba last weekend, did not play like a team that is fighting for the title.

The home side raced into the lead on the stroke of halftime through stylish midfielder Timothy January but the visitors did not throw in the towel and were duly rewarded in the 71st minute through a Trust Nyabinde goal.

Although it might be early days, Kaindu is sure to start feeling some discomfort under his collar as his team struggled to justify the huge investment made by Metallon Gold.

Reports also suggest the Zambian has fallen out with some members of Chikurupati’s executive and his nemesis are likely to start pointing at the team’s results as an excuse to jettison the former Bosso and Triangle coach.

But for Tsholotsho and coach Farai Tawachera two points from the first two outings is not a bad return for a team that is largely expected to fight relegation.