Chicken Inn assistant coach Thulani Sibanda says the 2-1 defeat to Chapungu on Saturday was as a result of a wrong mentality by their players.
 
Sibanda said the players came into the match thinking that Chapungu were pushovers considering their poor home record in which they have won only once against Hwange this season.

“The players came in with a wrong mentality into this match. The players thought after beating Highlanders last week, Chapungu were going to be easy customers. The players were not running for the ball and they thought everything was going to be easy. It’s something that we are going to work on in our next assignment,” said Sibanda.

Their coach Rahman Gumbo was visibly frustrated with the defeat that he headed to the dressing room refusing to speak to the media who had to follow him to the dressing room where he delegated his assistant Sibanda to entertain the media.

Chapungu got a deserved lead early in the first half through a Thabani Goredema own goal. Lively winger Xolani Ncube went on a run on the left flank beating Passmore Bernard and Lawrence Mhlanga before sending a low cross which Goredema turned past Elvis Chipezeze in a bid o clear to safety.

The champions however got back into the match eight minutes later through veteran striker Obadiah Tarumbwa who got to the end of a Darryl Nyandoro pass. Tarumbwa was denied a second by an alert Blessing Zabula who slid to push the ball out for a corner after goalkeeper Roy Mazingi was beaten. 

Chapungu coach Nyikadzino made a tactical change in the second half bringing in midfielder Tafadzwa Mombeshora for newboy Aleck Marime and the move paid dividends as the veteran midfielder who was celebrating his 35th birthday, tilted the match in the hosts favour.

It was not long before they restored the lead through a gem of a goal by Allen Tavarwisa in the 60th minute. Tavarwisa received a pass from Rodwell Mhlanga inside the box and released a rising shot which shook the roof of the nets.
 
Chapungu coach John Nyikadzino was hugely relieved after the victory, having gone for a number of matches without a win at home. The last win at home had been against Hwange in the early stages of the season.

“It’s a huge relief for me after having gone for a number of matches without a win at home. I want to thank the authorities at the Airforce for standing by me when results were hard to come by. I also want to thank the fans for standing by the team,” said Nyikadzino.