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Ricky Zililo Senior Sports Reporter
CAN reigning champions Dynamos make it three wins in three visits to Bulawayo when they take on Chicken Inn on Saturday at Barbourfields Stadium?DeMbare, buoyant after their last weekend 1-0 victory over arch-rivals Highlanders who have become perennial failures in terms of beating Dynamos in the last eight years, seem to have turned Barbourfields Stadium into their favourite hunting ground.
The Harare giants were at Emagumeni on the opening week of the 2014 Castle Lager Premiership season where they beat How Mine 1-0 and returned to the City of Kings to collect maximum points against Bantu Rovers who they beat 3-1 in April.
DeMbare seem to have done well on the road compared to last season when they won twice away from the capital, beating Tripple B 2-0 who were playing home-away-from-home at Mandava and Highlanders 1-0 at Barbourfields Stadium on Week 27.
This time around Dynamos have won three times away from Harare, twice in Bulawayo against How Mine and Bantu Rovers as well as their slender 1-0 victory against the league’s whipping boys Chiredzi FC.
It remains to be seen whether Chicken Inn just like Hwange and Chapungu who beat the defending champions by identical 1-0 scorelines will be able to collect maximum points against them.
Joey Antipas, Chicken Inn’s coach, is confident that his charges who seem to have hit a purple patch going for a four-match unbeaten run and in the process bagging 10 out of a possible 12 points with Dynamos picking nine points during the same period.
“I must say our confidence keeps on growing as weeks pass and seeing that we have hit rich form, I am confident that we are going to hold our own. Dynamos are the champions and they are tied on 22 points with log leaders Hwange. That shows that they cannot be taken lightly. We have lots of respect for them but I believe it will be an open game and we are going to work for a win,” Antipas said.
The 2010 championship winning coach with Motor Action led Chicken Inn to a 2-2 draw with Dynamos last year. He is looking to better the result this time.
Antipas believes he has little to do to psyche up his players.
“Just the fact that we are playing defending champions who are one of the three oldest teams in the league is enough motivation for the players. Players tend to raise their game during high profile matches but still we have to work on our tactical discipline and avoid being carried away,” he said.
As of yesterday, he had a clean bill of health with only three players — captain Danny “Deco” Phiri who is club hunting in South Africa, Mkhokheli Dube in America on personal business and Ben Nyahunzvi who has a long-term injury – ruled out of the encounter.
The Gamecocks have a number of good players in their camp like pre-season signings Ishmael Lawe, George Majika and Bhekimpilo Ncube who have been regulars for the fast foods-outlets-sponsored club.
DeMbare should keep a close eye on strikers Tendai Mukambi, Thomas “Mahinya” Chimenya who scored the winning goals for them in their last two league matches against Chiredzi FC and Hwange. There are also Majika, veteran Clemence Matawu, Canaan Nkomo and Brian Mbiriri.
On the other hand, Dynamos are no pushovers with their player-of-the-moment Stephen Alimenda, Ronald Chitiyo, defence stalwarts Themba Ndlovu and Partson Jaure expected to lead their hunt for victory.
Fixtures
Saturday: FC Platinum v Bantu Rovers (Mandava, 3PM SuperSport 9), ZPC Kariba v Chiredzi (Gwanzura), Harare City v Shabanie Mine (Rufaro), Chicken Inn v Dynamos (Barbourfields Stadium).
Sunday: Triangle United v How Mine (Gibbo, 1PM SuperSport 9), Highlanders v Black Rhinos (Barbourfields), Buffaloes v Chapungu (Sakubva), Caps United v Hwange (National Sports Stadium).
derick.khumalo