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Eddie Chikamhi Sports Reporter
Chicken Inn coach Joey Antipas has predicted a “cracker” of a match when his side begin their title defence in the Castle Lager Premiership with a big assignment against former champions Dynamos at Luveve this afternoon. Antipas yesterday said it was interesting that the Gamecocks, who had an unsuccessful run in their maiden CAF Champions League earlier this year, have an immediate test of their strengths in the league with the first match of the season.
The former Warriors gaffer was crowned Coach of the Year last year after ending Dynamos’ four year dominance in the domestic Premiership.
But considering that the Harare giants almost wrecked their campaign when they came to Bulawayo and beat them 1-0 in the title run-in, Antipas said they always expect tough games against DeMbare.
“We’re quite looking forward to start the season. We know 2016 will be tough just because being the reigning champions all the teams will be coming for us.
“And we also have a tough opening fixture against Dynamos. They’re the former champions, they’ve a new coach with a different philosophy so we expect a difficult game. I know it’ll be a cracker,” said Antipas.
The Gamecocks to their advantage have retained most of their players from last season and have bolstered their squad with the arrival of veteran forward Obidiah Tarumbwa, Young Warriors defender Teenage Hadebe, ex-Dongo Sawmill forward Physwell Hadebe and Moses Demera.
Apart from Toto Banda who joined How Mine and Bheki Ncube who disappeared off the radar, Chicken Inn are looking to have continuity with skipper Danny Phiri leading the side that also has veteran Clement Matawu, Edmore Chirambadare, George Majika, Mitchelle Katsvairo, Thabani Goredema, Raphael Kutinyu and Ishmael Lawe.
The Bulawayo side have had a long pre-season as they started earlier than any of the 16 Premiership teams because of their participation in the CAF Champions League where they however, failed at the first hurdle, but not without giving South Africa giant Mamelodi Sundowns a good run for their money.
They have now sought to direct all their energies to the domestic championship. Antipas said they need to double their efforts as their successes in the previous campaign have made them the team to beat.
“Of course we’re the defending champions but that’s not a guarantee we’ll win it again this year. We need to be focused and personally I’m not looking too far ahead of ourselves,” said Antipas.
Their opponents have made it clear that their mandate this year is to reclaim the championship and have hired Portuguese coach Paulo Jorge Silva.
The Harare giants have beefed up with the likes of ex-Triangle midfielder Tichaona Chipunza, Dominic Mukandi, Jimmy Dzingai, Ashley Reyners and Valentine Ndaba.
But the coach is not happy with his strike-force which he had wanted to beef up especially after losing Takesure Chinyama who has now returned to Poland to join third division side LZS Piotrówka.
Chinyama was offloaded this month because of injury concerns but has been gladly welcomed by his new employers who believe the 33-year-old still has something special in him.
It now appears Silva may have to do with the personnel at his disposal as DeMbare revealed yesterday they have dropped plans to take on board Cameroon forward Sunday Djouta. Dynamos secretary general Webster Chikengezha said they discovered that his work papers were not in order.
“Of course he’s a good player but we couldn’t take him on board because he has issues with his papers. He needs to put his papers in place first.
“We gathered that he was playing for Masvingo United last season and we’ve talked to the club and they gave us his clearance but then the problem is he doesn’t have an International Transfer Certificate.
“How he played for Masvingo, we don’t know but as Dynamos we’re saying we’re a big brand and we don’t want to be caught up in controversial matters,” said Chikengezha.
Meanwhile, Caps United play Chapungu at the National Sports Stadium tomorrow afternoon.
Chapungu coach John Nyikadzino tipped Caps United as one of the favourites to win the league trophy this season. The coach believes the former champions are leading the pack as strong title contenders.
“Caps United have changed from the coach to the players and everyone is tipping them to win the league. But interestingly as a club we always get such kind of fixtures in our opening matches and last season our first match was an away fixture against How Mine who were also pre-season favourites and we managed to do well.
“But we know this is going to be a tough match and history doesn’t count much in football, the better team of the day will win,” said Nyikadzino.
derick.khumalo