adminThe BancABC Sup8r Trophy was not staged last year because of a congested calendar but has returned as the richest knock-out competition in the league with US$120 000 for the winners.
Last week, Chicken Inn beat Shabanie Mine 2-1 at Maglas in a Castle Lager Premier Soccer League match and the two sides will also clash against each other when the league race enters the reverse fixtures in the next match.
Zimunya pulled a goal back for Shabanie during their last match but it was not enough to save his team from defeat against the Gamecocks.
“We were very unlucky to lose the last match against Chicken Inn but I hope that we win this time.
“The two-week break that we took affected our rhythm because we relaxed but now I believe we have picked form.
“We used to get better results before the break, but our form took a dip because of inactivity during the break,” said Zimunya.
Zimunya, a former Masvingo United skipper, said while Chicken Inn could be the home team, according to the tournament rules, the Chinda Boys will feel more at home.
“We are playing in Zvishavane and our fans will be behind us.
“So we are more at home than them,” he said.
Last year, Nelson Mazisiwa was the leading light for the miners who are struggling for a sure-footed striker this season.
“Maziwisa did well last season but we have guys who are capable of getting the goals like Caleb Masocha and Tarisai Rukanda who play upfront while I play behind them.
“We also have new players like Valentine Ndaba, Mulungisi Ndlovu, Peter Muzondo, Frank Bushire and Fungai Chirinda who are settling well,” he said.
Unlike a league match were a draw could be a possible outcome at the end of the day, quarter-final matches will head straight into penalty shoot-out in the event of deadlock.
Outspoken Shabanie Mine coach Luke Masomere has also promised to clip Chicken Inn’s wings during the knockout tournament.
“Chicken Inn must know that Zvishavane is not their hunting ground. It’s sad that Shabanie Mine or FC Platinum have never beaten them at Maglas.
“Their wins and draws must come to an end and the best time to stop that is tomorrow (this) afternoon.
“As an individual I want to be the first coach to hand them their first defeat in Zvishavane because we can’t let them to continue their dominance and the match is going to be explosive,” said Masomere.
Mandava is now a sentimental home for Chicken Inn as the venue where they lifted their first silverware since their entry into the Premiership.
The Gamecocks midfielder, Thabani Goredema, said they were looking at nothing short of a place in the semi-finals.
“We have one mission when we enter Zvishavane and that is to win the match.
“Early in the season we won our trophy in the same town and we are back again with the same target,” said Goredema.
Goredema, who played for CAPS United and Kiglon, appear to be enjoying a new lease of life at Chicken Inn as he has been included in the Warriors’ Cosafa squad for Zambia.
“At the moment I am used an attacking link but I can also play as a defensive link,” he said.
Online Reporter