Chicken Inn proceed to NetOne Charity Shield finals

Chicken Inn  2 - 1 Monomotapa
Chicken Inn FC yesterday shrugged the off season rust to proceed to the final of the NetOne Charity Shield when dismissing Monomotapa 2-1 in the first semi-final here at Mandava Stadium. The first goal of the $300 000-worth four-team tournament came from the boot of the Bulawayo side's striker Thabani Goredema after 43 minutes of miscued efforts. Goredema completed a brilliant move with fellow forward Thomas Chimenya and grinded the ball through the leftside of an outstretched Monomotapa goalkeeper Jonas Zvaita to settle inside the net, leaving Mutare based referee Langton Chitsa to blow the whistle for a goal.

On 57 minutes Monoz playmaker Ronald Chitiyo was to justify why he was named second only to Denver Mukamba in the Castle Lager Soccer Star of the Year award  last season when he sliced a power volley from inside the box after connecting a cross from Obey Mwerahari.

Chitiyo causing Chicken Inn defenders headaches throughout the match in particular on the 28th minute when he fired warning shots with a twice-taken crack at goal that first smashed against the Chicken Inn wall and the resultant curling strike that just flew over the bar.

Biggie Zuze's men looked stronger in the second half especially after Chitiyo's equaliser however Chicken Inn's super- sub Canaan Nkomo who replaced a tiring Kudakwashe Mahachi had different thoughts and again floored Zvaita on 78 minutes.

This was the result of Brian Juru's piercing runs on the right flank.

Chicken Inn could have won by a bigger margin but were undone by a couple of missed chances by Tendai Ndoro who in particular miscued a perfect opportunity 10 minutes into the game when he found space inside the box.

Before his substitution by coach Mandla Mpofu, Mahachi was clearly the best man on show for Chicken Inn as they marched into their first-ever cup final while Monoz captain Kuda Musharu, from whom much was expected, failed to stamp authority on the field as is his norm.

Speaking after the game Zuze who had indicated before the match that he was not under any pressure and had the desire to check on his team which is on a rebuilding mission was a satisfied man.

"We lost concentration during the first half of the game, that is when we lost the game. However we are a team that is on the mend having lost half of the players.

"We did not play really well but we kept on the tempo in the second half. We cannot take away the fact though that we still have a good team," the Monomotapa coach said.

Speaking on Chitiyo, Zuze said the youngster is an excellent player who will definitely cause trouble come the 2013 Castle Lager Premier Soccer League season.

For Chicken Inn gaffer, Mandla Mpofu it was all excitement with the desire to lift Chicken Inn's first ever silverware going into the final.

"It was a game of two halves and I am happy with the result also with the chances that we created. This game was a big game and it has given us time to assess the team. The only change we made was on Zephania Ngodzo otherwise the team is already intact.

"Coming from last year when our team finished in the top four it is a challenge for the players to maintain the momentum and I think from all the team here Monomotapa were the toughest opponents," Mpofu boasted.

Teams
Monomotapa - Jonah Zvaita, Morgan Mungombe, Hillary Mugoniwa,  Nelson Meson, Charles Rukwanhi, Jimmy Tigere, Ronald Chitiyo, Martin Nyanzira, Kudakwashe Musharu (captain) Ishmael Lawe, Obey Mwerahari.
Chicken Inn - Liberty Chirava, Moses Jackson, Kudakwashe Mahachi (72nd C.Nkomo), Tendai Ndoro,  Tendai Mukambi, Thabani Goredema (64th B. Juru), Thomas Chimenya  (53rd R.Jongwe), Danny Phiri, Zephania Ngodzo, Felix Chindungwe.