Chronicle Editor
Grace Chingoma Senior Sports Reporter
CHICKEN Inn coach Joey Antipas says they are itching to have silverware in their cabinet early in the season to send a message to all their rivals when they clash with Highlanders in the final of the Uhuru Cup at the National Sports Stadium this afternoon.
The Gamecocks stormed into the final when they dismissed Dynamos 1-0 at Rufaro on Saturday while Highlanders progressed after beating FC Platinum in a penalty shoot-out lottery following a 1-1 draw at Barbourfields.
Interestingly, both semi-final encounters featured teams which had met in the league in the last two weeks while Highlanders quickly had their revenge on the Pure Platinum Boys who had beaten them in their backyard a week ago, it was not the same for the Harare giants who fell again to Chicken Inn.
In the league opening week, DeMbare suffered a 3-0 drubbing at the hands of Chicken Inn at Barbourfields and on Saturday they failed to turn the heat on their rivals at home, leaving coach Paulo Silva in a desperate situation.
And yesterday Antipas said they know they are the team to beat with everyone pulling up their socks to dismantle them from the throne this season after they won the league last year.
Antipas said they are treating each match seriously.
“It was good to beat Dynamos again but it was a struggle than the last time we played them. We assessed the way they played in Bulawayo and capitalised on that but they tried to put us under pressure and showed that they have improved from that league’s performance.
“Getting through to the final was important. It’s a Bulawayo derby being played in Harare and what we know about Bulawayo derbies is that they are always tense and tough.
“We want to pick silverware early in the season and hope we can achieve it and it will give us a boost. This season would be tough for us compared to last season and every team would want to beat us and also win the league,” said Antipas.
The Coach of Year made a few changes in Saturday’s starting line-up in the midfield where he thrust players such as Pride Tafirenyika and Brian Juru.
And in today’s match the former Motor Action gaffer said he may rest some of the players.
However, defender Devine Lunga picked up a calf injury in the semi-final and had to be replaced with Teenage Hadebe.
“In the match against Dynamos we played our regular goalkeeper Elvis Chipezeze and stuck with the back four and juggled a bit in the midfield.
“For this game we will juggle with the players because they didn’t get much rest but we will know in the morning who will be in the team and who would not,” said Antipas.
On Saturday, Chicken Inn midfielder Clemence Matawu proved that he is still what it takes to be a force in the domestic league.
Highlanders, under the guidance of Dutch mentor Erol Akbay, will not be pushovers as the new coach has added a fresh impetus to the team by combining youth with experience.
On Saturday Highlanders goalkeeper Ariel Sibanda was the hero of the day after saving spot kicks taken by the FC Platinum duo of Simon Shoko and Brian Muzondiwa to boot out last year’s Independence Cup winners FC Platinum.
And it was sweet victory for the Bulawayo giants who equalised through Benson Phiri after the Zvishavane side had taken the lead.
The soft-spoken Chicken Inn gaffer said Highlanders are tricky opponents who are enjoying a new lease of life under new Dutch coach Abkay.
Dynamos and FC Platinum are expected to play in the third-place play-off in Bulawayo today.
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