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Ricky Zililo in Ndola, Zambia
Zesco 2-0 Chicken Inn
CHAMPIONS Chicken Inn paid dearly for defensive boobs that saw them falling to Zambian champions Zesco yesterday to end their week-long tour of the neighbouring country without a win.

The Gamecocks’ defence in the four-team tournament was poor as it leaked in seven goals in three matches, a statistic that is worrying head coach Joey Antipas.

Going into yesterday’s game, Chicken Inn had played to a 2-2 draw against Zanaco and lost 1-3 to Tanzanian giants Azam.

Chicken Inn were hard-pressed for victory against Zesco, but found the Zambian champions in an uncompromising mood throughout the match.

A howler by goalkeeper Pride Zendera on the half-hour mark and miscommunication between central defenders Ben Nyahunzwi and Moses Jackson gifted Congolese striker Idris Ilunga Mbombo an easy headed goal into an empty net for the Zambians’ opener.

Zendera mistimed his jump for a seemingly harmless high ball, which Mbombo headed towards goal.

Jackson and Nyahunzwi clashed in a desperate attempt to clear the ball before crossing the goal line.

As if that was not enough, holding midfielder Brian Juru’s stray pass was intercepted by Jesse Were just after the centre line and the Kenyan international charged towards goal for more than 30 metres without being challenged and beat a hapless Zendera in the 47th minute.

Zesco were by far the better team as they were always first on the ball, while Chicken Inn failed to string more than five passes, leaving Antipas fuming.

The Gamecocks’ coach said the tournament had been an eye opener for his side, which is preparing to take on in-form South African giants Mamelodi Sundowns in the first leg of the Caf Champions League preliminary round in Bulawayo in just over a weeks’ time.

“Obviously I’m disappointed with our failure to win and the manner in which we’re conceding goals. We gave away soft goals. The good thing is that we’ve realised our mistakes and now have to attend to them before the Sundowns’ game,” said Antipas.

“I feel our concentration levels were generally appalling and our movement wasn’t that quick. We enjoyed passing the ball around and were comfortable with the ball in most matches, but failed to effectively use that possession or dominance. Today Zesco were better than us and deserved to win. We will go back home and work on our mistakes,” said Antipas.

Zesco were on the offensive from the first whistle and could have shot ahead through Mbombo, but his header was cleared off the goal line by Nyahunzwi.

They dominated Chicken Inn in the midfield and the visitors only woke up from their slumber after 15 minutes. Chicken Inn almost caught the home side on a quick break in the 25th minute when Physwell Madhazi switched play from the right to George Majika on the left. His cutback was met by Brian Juru, whose effort deflected for a corner.

Mbombo then broke the deadlock in the 30th minute with an easy header.

Chicken Inn never really troubled the Zesco goalkeeper in the second half as they were restricted to their half or outside the opponents’ penalty box.

Azam were crowned tournament champions after amassing five points in their three outings following yesterday’s 1-1 draw with Zanaco.

Teams

Zesco: Lameck Nyangu, Shemy Mayembe (Emmanuel Mayuka, 48th minute), Ayo Oluwafemi (Lottie Bwalya, 70th minute), Ben Banh, David Odhiambo, Anthony Agay, Jackson Mwanza (Lazarus Kambole, 74th minute), Maybin Mwaba (Mathews Nkhowani, 63rd minute), Idris Ilungu Mbombo, Jesse Were, John Ching’andu (Kasashi Lupiya, 57th minute)

Chicken Inn: Pride Zendera, Passmore Bernard, Brian Mbiriri (Canaan Nkomo, 83rd minute), Moses Jackson, Ben Nyahunzwi, Guide Goddard (Tafadzwa Kutinyu, 66th minute), Brian Juru, George Majika (Bhekimpilo Ncube, 69th minute), Physwell Madhazi (Nicholas Muchadeyi, 66th minute), Obidiah Tarumbwa (Ishmael Lawe, 74th minute), Mitchelle Katsvairo