Antipas confident

Grace Chingoma Senior Sports Reporter
CHICKEN Inn coach Joey Antipas believes there will be a photo-finish in the race for the Castle Lager Premiership title and is confident his men will win the contest.

The Gamecocks’ last league victory was against How Mine last month, where they needed a last-gasp win, something which the gaffer said is worrying their camp.

They were held 1-1 by Whawha at the weekend, dropping two big points, and allowing FC Platinum to move within just two points in this riveting race. Antipas said they will not panic.

He believes his men suffered from complacency in the game against Whawha.

“We were lucky to come out with a draw, that’s one thing for sure. There was a bit of complacency on the boys.

“But it’s all part of the game and it is now going down to the wire but we are still optimistic. “It is a bit worrying that we have been dropping points but I believe we just have to work on our attitude in the remaining games.” The coach says the final stretch has never been an easy adventure for any team and his men were not different. The Bulawayo side are left with matches against Tsholotsho, who have been impressive of late, a home game against Harare City and in their last game of the season they will travel to Harare to face a resurgent Flame Lily.

“Every opponent we play is a difficult opponent, so we have to believe in ourselves and we will be playing teams that are fighting relegation and it is not going to be easy,” he said.

“We will take each game as it comes whether it is the Cup or league.

“ZPC Kariba (whom they meet in the Easycall Cup first round) are a team that have been doing well lately and it is a Cup game and a money game.”

FC Platinum coach Norman Mapeza said Chicken Inn still had the edge because they have points in the basket.

“We are not focusing much on what other teams are doing. We will just keep fighting and remember the league is won by one team so we cannot talk about winning when we are in second position,” said Mapeza. “I don’t think there is any advantage for us here, there are two points separating us and it is a lot in a game of football. “It is still game on we still have to play Flame Lily away in Harare, CAPS United at Mandava and Dongo Sawmill in Rusape. All the games have been difficult for us and we have been working hard to grind the result.

“We have shifted our focus to the Easycall Cup. Everyone involved want to win this Cup and our wish is to go for the final.

“The guys are doing okay and the average age is 23 with only Gift Bello, Winstone Mhango and Petros Mhari as the senior players. “There is unity and teamwork at the club as we don’t rely on individuals.”