Online Reporter
Bruce Chikuni
Sports Reporter
CHICKEN Inn assistant coach Tostao Kwashi feels Donovan Bernard can beat his last season’s impressive 20 clean sheets record this season.
The 29-year-old recorded his fourth clean sheet of the season in six games following their 1-0 win against Dynamos last Sunday.
He became the first goalie in the history of the domestic Premiership to register 20 clean sheets last season.
The Gamecocks have had challenges in their offensive unit, which has scored two goals in six games.
But their defensive unit has not given the team’s boss, Joey Antipas, sleepless nights, with Bernard proving to be his best player at the club.
Bernard has appeared as Antipas’s dependable servant, easing all his defensive worries.
It is worth remembering that Antipas was the man who introduced Bernard to top-flight football 13 years ago during his tenure at the now-defunct Motor Action.
Antipas and his technical team came to Harare last weekend knowing that anything less than maximum points would see their union with the club ending.
But Bernard did his best to organise his defense to keep the Glamour Boys strikers in their tracks.
Kwashi hailed Bernard for being ever-ready to make the difference.
“Bernard has grown to be a great goalkeeper who you can always count on. You don’t need to tell him much because he has been in the game for a long time now.
“I’m more than happy with the passion he has shown to play at a top level for a long time as a goalkeeper, it tells you everything about his professionalism and commitment.
“I don’t think he will struggle to replicate his last season’s success because he knows what it takes to achieve such a rare feat, and he only needs to remain consistent and focused to even improve that mark,” said Kwashi.
Kwashi also believes Chicken Inn’s defense has aided Bernard’s cause.
“You can never take away the experience and talent of Bernard, but we should also give credit to the players who protect him. I think they all deserve credit for the work they are putting in. It feels good to have players who can defend well because sometimes it’s better to pick a point than to lose all points,” he said.
Chicken Inn are hosting Simba Bhora on Monday at Luveve as they seek to extend their winning run.
Simba Bhora are visiting the Gamecocks on the back of a 4-0 win which they recorded against Manica Diamonds.
Chicken Inn have never lost against Simba Bhora at Luveve.
They have recorded two wins and Simba Bhora have only won once in four attempts against Antipas’s men.
Mathew Masinge