Ndiraya Encouraged as Chicken Inn End Losing Run With Valuable Point Against Agama FC

Chicken Inn head coach Tonderayi Ndiraya was left encouraged by his team's performance after the Gamecocks battled to a 0-0 draw against Agama FC at Wadzanayi Stadium on Saturday in a Castle Lager Premier Soccer League Matchday 16 encounter.

The result ended Chicken Inn's run of three successive defeats and saw the Bulawayo side collect an important away point while keeping a clean sheet.

Reflecting on the match, Ndiraya revealed that preparations for the fixture had been far from ideal after his side was forced into a demanding travel schedule following their trip to ZPC Kariba.

"I think it was a difficult game for us from a planning point of view. We were very unfortunately incaughts that we had to travel to ZPC Kariba so we had two away matches, ZPC Kariba and this one."

The Chicken Inn coach thanked the club's management for allowing the team to camp in Bindura ahead of the match, a move he believes played a crucial role in helping the players prepare properly.

"Allow me to thank our management for then allowing us to come and stay in Bindura for the entire week preparing for this game. I would imagine if we had gone back to Bulawayo and then come back for this fixture it was really going to be very demanding for the boys."

Ndiraya also pointed to the difficult playing conditions at Wadzanayi Stadium.

"And then on top of that look at the pitch, there is a heavy pitch here so it was really going to take a lot of energy from the players. So we camped in Bindura, that's why you saw us with a very good first half."

The Gamecocks coach felt his side controlled large parts of the opening period and should have gone into the break with a comfortable lead.

"I felt that we really controlled the first half and I also thought with some bit of decisions or some bit of urgency we should have scored at least three goals in the first half."

However, Chicken Inn were unable to convert their chances and the game remained goalless at half-time.

Ndiraya admitted fatigue began to affect his players in the second half, while Agama naturally increased the pressure in front of their home supporters.

"Half-time we could clearly see that the players were really tired because of the pitch. Then naturally because Agama was playing at home they were really going to throw bodies forward, obviously in search of that win."

Despite Agama enjoying more possession after the interval, Chicken Inn remained organised and defended resolutely to preserve a valuable clean sheet.

"The boys really defended very well today and then we held on to that point."

Ndiraya believes the point was particularly important given the team's recent run of results.

"We were coming from three successive defeats. In those three games I thought we were also very unlucky to lose those games. We were conceding very soft goals."

He pointed to the nature of the goals conceded against FC Platinum, Scottland FC and ZPC Kariba before praising his team's defensive response against Agama.

"Today at least we managed to keep a clean sheet. The team defended very well so yeah, it will really give us some room to really breathe going forward."

The Chicken Inn coach finished by acknowledging the challenge posed by Agama on their home ground while praising his players for their determination.

"Very difficult match, very difficult. Agama are very good here. Those teams that have won here have not had it easy and so are we, but I'm happy that the boys really fought hard for the point."

Following Saturday's draw, Chicken Inn remain in 11th position on the Castle Lager Premier Soccer League table with 19 points, but the Gamecocks will take confidence from a performance that ended their losing run and demonstrated greater defensive solidity heading into their next fixtures.