Gamecocks Clinch League Title

By Perkins-Tino Bare

The Gamecocks cliched the league title with a game to spare as they blew away a Harare City 3-1 . FC Platinum failed to keep the gamecocks in sight as they were held to a 1-1 draw at home by a resurgent Caps United. This then effectively handed Chicken Inn their maiden league title and it means the title will be making its way once again to Bulawayo after a painful 9 years of waiting. Highlanderrs on the other hand continued with their good run of form chugging their way to a top four finish after enduring a rather long season.

Gamecocks Rule the Roost

With head coach Joey Antipas under immense pressure, Chicken Inn needed to start winning their matches to wrap up what they had started and they went into this match from the back of three consecutive draws. They then went on to dispatch Harare City 3-1 in a match played at Luveve stadium securing their maiden league title which seemd to have been slipping right through their paws.

The gamecocks got two quick goals in the first half form Moses Majika and Tafadzwa Kutinyu in the 18th minute. It was inportant that they scored first and also imperative that they did it early as it then calmed down the nerves of the yougn boys. Goals were getiing hard to come by for the gamecocks and they really needed to make themselves believe again that they could indeed do it. Harare City however showed their potential as they scored one back through Talent Chawapiwa but the gamecocks were to hold on in the 2nd half before Michelle Katsvairo killed the game as a contest for the visitors.

The win, coupled with FC Platinum`s draw, opened up an assailable 4 point lead which then secures the league title for the gamecocks. Joey Antipas was on cloud nine as celebrations began immediately. “I am very chaffed with our performance. We knew the destiny of the title was in our own hands and we had to take the bull by its horns. We had good performances throughout the season and we stuck together. Of course, we had a couple of defeats, but we came back together and it is the togetherness that was key. We could have won it with four games remaining, but it is never easy to win the championship,” Antipas said in a post match interview with a local newspaper.

Fc Platinum who were trailing the champions by 2 points could not keep up with them as they were held to a 1-1 drwa at home by Caps United. Makepekepe had developed the tag of being party spoilers in the past couple of seasons but this time round it was not meant to be. Dynamos on the other hand won their match against Chapungu 2-0. They won it rather confidently and the win then put them level on poinys with 2nd placed FC Platinum but the miners still hold on to their second place as per superior goal difference.

Bosso`s Winning Streak Continues

Highlanders continued with their brilliant form as they beat the stubborn boys Tsholotsho 2-1 which will have an effect on who`s going back to the Division 1. Bosso took the lead in the 1st half through `banolila` Ralph Matema who`s been having a good time since his return. 4 miuntes later, Simon Munawa doubled Bosso`s lead assending Barbourfileds into a frenzy. The match was never going to be easy especially with Thsolostho themselves fighting relegation. Bosso remains on 6th position with a top four finish all but gone at the moment. Triangle`s win over Buffaloes maintains a 5 point lead between them and Bosso while Caps who are in 5th , can still have a go at it as they trail Triangle by 3 points. Tsholotsho then pulled one back in the 2nd half through Joel Luphahla but Bosso still hung on for victory.

Tsholotsho now need an outright victory in their last match to survive the chop. They are a point above the relegation zone above Buffaloes in 13th position. With Dongo Sawmills, Whawha and Flame Lily all but relegated, the battle is now between them and Buffaloes to see who is going back to the division. It would be an absolute nughtmare for Saul Chaminuka to go back after having chased the league title itelf last year with ZPC Kariba. Survival for Tsholotsho would mean absoulute wonders for Bulawayo football as they`ll now have a host of clubs in the premiership which will see most teams having to regularise that trip to Bulawayo as there will be at least 5 clubs from Matebeleland next season with the inclusion of Bulawayo Chiefs.

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