Chicken Inn face stern Dynamos test

Innocent Kurira, Sports Reporter

CHICKEN Inn coach, Joey Antipas, has predicted a difficult encounter for his team when they face Dynamos in a Castle Lager Premier Soccer League game at Rufaro Stadium in Harare this afternoon.

The fixture was rescheduled to this date following Dynamos’ participation in the Caf Confederations Cup. Antipas says his team will not have it easy against DeMbare more so given they now play their home games at their ceremonial home ground, Rufaro Stadium.

“It’s going to be a difficult game for us. Dynamos have been playing well lately. We got to watch them against CAPS United last week and they had a brilliant first half.

“They like to knock the ball around so it will be important for us to ensure we don’t give them much of the ball. We have to take the game to them or else they will punish us. I thought we had a good game against Simba Bhora though we failed to get maximum points. If the boys play like they did in that game we may be able to come out of that game with a result.

This is one of the big games in the country and fans can expect a good game of football,” said Antipas. DeMbare will be missing key players such as striker Sydney Urikhob (injury), Freddy Alick (suspended), Emmanuel Jalai (national team duty) and Emmanuel Paga.

Chicken Inn sit one point above Dynamos on the league table in eighth place, with the two teams set to clash in their 24th league meeting on Sunday. Chicken Inn have seven wins, nine draws and seven losses against DeMbare, the previous meeting between the two sides ended in a goalless draw.

Dynamos have scored 22 goals against Chicken Inn, who have netted 20 times. Last season, DeMbare secured a 2-1 win at the National Sports Stadium and a 2-0 victory at Barbourfields Stadium.

Simba Bhora, meanwhile, top the table with 60 points from 29 games while FC Platinum are in second position with 51 points.
The Tonderayi Ndiraya coached side needs seven points to reach an unassailable 67 points. Crucially, Simba Bhora will meet Ngezi Platinum Stars and FC Platinum in the title run-in.

If they get results from the two matches it will almost be certain they will be champions this season.
With their impressive 2-0 victory over ZPC Kariba at Barbourfields Stadium last weekend, Highlanders moved into third place with 44 points, same as Manica Diamonds who are in fourth place. —@innocentskizoe