SPORTS REPORTER
Jumbo Giants assistant coach Richard Chunga has blamed fatigue for the Mazowe-based team’s home defeat to CP Chemicals on Sunday.
Expectations of a home win were high as Jumbo Giants stepped onto the Jumbo Mine Stadium pitch against CP Chemicals, following back-to-back wins against Banket United and G&T Mining.
But CP Chemicals, who are coached by Masimba ‘Zhole’ Mutape, had other ideas and ran out 3-1 winners.
The win took CP Chemicals above Jumbo Giants into sixth position with 35 points, while Jumbo Giants dropped to eighth position with 34 points.
Speaking to the media after the match, Jumbo Giants assistant coach Chunga, whose side had faced G&T Mining away in Chegutu 72 hours earlier, also felt that, apart from fatigue, avoidable mistakes cost his side.
“I think three games in one week took a toll on the guys, so I think we can blame this result, to a certain extent, on fatigue. But we lost the game because of the silly mistakes that we made, and in our coming training sessions we will work to correct the mistakes as we prepare for the next game against Black Mambas,” said Chunga.
Meanwhile, CP Chemicals coach Zhole praised his charges for returning to winning ways in style.
“I thought we responded well after the midweek loss to Harare City, and the lads fought hard from the first minute. Hence, we dominated in the first half when we took the lead,” he said.
“We also came back in the second half and made it 2-0 early, and I also thought we were pragmatic in that we did not give them any space to attack or any space to create any meaningful chances. All in all, I think we played a great game, and it’s good for us going forward.”
