AS the 2018 Premier Soccer League race entered the second half of the season, watchers of domestic football peered.
They were anxious to see who would step up from the title chasing pack to challenge the Platinum miners FC Platinum and Ngezi Platinum for the ultimate prize.
Two games into the second half, it appears Chicken Inn could pose a real threat to the championship bid by the Platinum teams.
After managing a point when coming from behind to draw 1-1 against Dynamos at Rufaro the previous week, Chicken Inn appear to be the team that poses a real threat to the championship bid by the Platinum teams.
On Saturday, they recorded their biggest victory of the season, demolishing new boys Nichruit 4-0 to claim third place.
A hat-trick by Obriel Chirinda and another goal from Simon Munawa was all the Gamecocks needed to brush aside the challenge of Nichrut.
And Chicken Inn coach Joey Antipas, who has previously said the championship race was between Ngezi Platinum and FC Platinum, appears to have been emboldened by the scintillating performance by his side in the last two matches.
For Antipas’ men to battle from behind and secure a point against Dynamos in Harare when they had looked to be dead and buried is an exhibition of fortitude by this team.
The victory over Nichrut has seen them looking into the future with a sense of optimism.
“The points difference with the lague leaders is massive. It’s 11 points difference and we still have a lot of some catch up to do,” reflected Antipas. “We have to work very hard to have a chance in this race. But the most important thing is not to look at how others are conducting their business. We need to be focused and take each game as it comes.”
With leaders FC Platinum being held to a 1-1 draw by Yadah, Chicken Inn now with 34 points from 19 matches closed the gap between them and the leaders to 11 points .
FC Platinum now have 45 points with second placed Ngezi Platinum on 41 points after 19 rounds of matches.
With Ngezi Platinum seeing off Triangle 3-1, it meant they cut FC Platinum’s lead to just five points.
But FC Platinum coach Norman Mapeza was satisfied with the point they gained. “Every game we play, we play for three points. Unfortunately, this is what happened today and we have to take the point,” said Mapeza after the match.
“There was nothing else we could do about it. We had created so many chances which we failed to convert. Coming from a defeat last week, I say well done to my boys for giving their best.”
Triangle dropped to fourth place with 32 points following the defeat to Ngezi Platinum. Highlanders climbed to fifth place after registering their first win in four matches, having suffered three successive defeats against Bulawayo Chiefs, FC Platinum and Black Rhinos which left them in seventh.
Another championship hopeful CAPS United stuttered to another goalless draw that left coach Lloyd Chitembwe seething with anger. The United gaffer tore into his team after they displayed a lacklustre show which has seen them firing blanks in their last two matches. They are now in sixth place with 31 points.
Dynamos remained trapped in the bottom half of the table in 10th place with 22 points.
