admin
Ngqwele Dube, Sports Correspondent
ATTACKING midfielder, Ayanda Bravie Sibanda’s move to join Chicken Inn has seen the youngster setting lofty goals which he believes are attainable at a stable environment.
Coming from Shurugwi-based side, Nichrut where the going has been tough, Sibanda believes stability at the Bulawayo side can propel him to greater heights in his career.
The 21-year-old last week sealed his move to the former Premiership champions after he impressed head coach Joey Antipas.
Sibanda said he did not think twice about changing clubs after Antipas sought his services but added he is alive to the fact that he will not just walk into the Chicken Inn squad but will have to work for a place in the first team.
“Being a new team in the Premiership it was always going to be a rocky road for Nichrut and things have not been well although we were being paid our salaries on time.
“Coming to Chicken Inn will certainly open new doors for me because it is one of the top teams in the Premiership and is coached by one of the best local coaches. They are ambitious and I have to be in sync with that ambition if I want to go any further in my career,” he said.
The former Chapungu player said his immediate aim is to break into the first team and secure a regular slot, which he however, admitted will not be easy due to the competitive players in the team.
He expressed confidence that it won’t be long before he secures a slot and once given a chance he will not be dislodged easily.
Sibanda said he is also eyeing national team selection and ultimately heading abroad in the future.
“Chicken Inn is the right platform for me to express my talent and having transferred a number of players outside the country, I believe I will be well positioned to progress in my career,” he said.
The former FC Cape Town player said he is of the belief they can inch closer towards the title despite his coach, Joey Antipas declaring the championship fight now is a two-horse race between Ngezi Platinum and defending champions FC Platinum.
The Gamecocks were fourth on the log table going into this weekend’s matches, 13 points adrift of leaders, FC Platinum who have amassed 44 points.
Sibanda believes working together as a team can see them cover the gap and fighting till the final whistle, adding with 16 games to go it is still game on.
Unlike other footballers who rose through junior ranks where their game cultivated at a tender age, Sibanda’s foray into football was through passion that saw him play social soccer on weekends with little grooming coming his way.
Sibanda moved to South Africa at a tender age and did his education at Cosmo High School where he did not get a chance to play football but played on weekends to fill up his time.
“I never played in proper football structures when I was growing up but because I loved soccer I would play on weekends in parks to fill up my time. It was during that time when I had completed high school that my father’s friend, Bhekimpilo Banda realised my talent and urged me to play professional soccer before securing me a contract at FC Cape Town in 2015.
“I did not stay long and decided to come back home and look for a team and I was signed by Chapungu, which was then coached by John Nyikadzino. The following year I moved to Nichrut and was part of the player that assisted the team gain promotion to the Premiership,” he said. Sibanda is yet to make his debut for the Gamecocks.
Online Reporter