Chronicle Editor
Fungai Muderere, Senior Sports Reporter
SMARTING from a 2-1 away defeat that they suffered at the hands of new boys Bikita Minerals last weekend, former Castle Lager Premier Soccer League (PSL) champions Chicken Inn will this afternoon hope to redeem themselves when they meet Herentals College at Luveve Stadium this afternoon.
In their 16 rounds of play, the Gamecocks have posted five wins, seven draws, and four defeats to amass a total of 22 points from a possible 48.
That speaks to a 46 percent success rate.
As if that is not enough, the Simbisa Brands-sponsored outfit has scored 14 goals and conceded the same number to put them on a worrying zero goal difference.
“We definitely need to fight on for a positive result against Herentals. We are coming from two defeats on the bounce away from home. On home territory, we should get a win. This is against a background of the fact that in our last two games we have conceded five and scored once.
“We need to patch up on that. Before those two games (versus Ngezi Platinum Stars and Bikita) Minerals), we had the best defence. All things being equal we should win on Sunday (today),” said veteran Chicken Inn head coach Joey Antipas.
Last weekend, Herentals College watched in disbelief when their 10 game unbeaten run was brought to a halt by Ngezi Platinum Stars who beat them 2-1 at Rufaro Stadium in Harare.
The Students, as Herentals College are affectionately known, will go into their match against Gamecocks after managing to register four wins, eight draws, four defeats to take their points tally to 20 from a possible 48.
It’s a run that translates to a 42 percent success rate.
Herentals College are also on a zero goal difference after scoring 15 and conceding the same number of goals in 16 games.
In other matches set for today, struggling Hwange entertain unpredictable Bikita Minerals deep in the bowels of the Colliery Stadium.
The coalminers have managed to register two wins, five draws and nine defeats from 16 outings.
They are on an uninspiring 23 percent success rate and it is their bad run that saw them part ways with Nation Dube who was replaced by Rodwell Dhlakama in the dugout.
In his first game in charge at the Colliery Stadium, Dhlakama masterminded the coal miners’ 1-0 triumph over Greenfuel who are interestingly the coach’s former paymasters.
Last Sunday, Dhlakama and his boys did not get it right against Highlanders at Barbourfields Stadium as they fell by the wayside to compound their woes.
“We really wanted to win against Highlanders considering where we are sitting on the log standings. It’s not pretty. We lost and we are going back to the drawing board. The team has not been doing well for quite a long time, but I’m confident that we are going to survive relegation,” said Dhlakama.
Former league champions Dynamos will do battle against Greenfuel at Rufaro Stadium while TelOne fight it out against FC Platinum at Bata Stadium.
Chegutu Pirates meet Arenel Movers at Mhondoro’s Baobab Stadium to complete the league’s Week 17 round of fixtures schedule. – @FungaiMuderere.
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