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Ricky Zililo, Sports Reporter
CHICKEN Inn have offered head coach Joey “Mafero” Antipas a one year contract following a successful five-game probation period in the just ended season. Antipas joined the ambitious Bulawayo club with five games left before the end of the 2013 season after Mandla “Lulu” Mpofu threw in the towel following a string of poor results.
When Antipas took over, Chicken Inn were on position six with 36 points from 25 matches having won 10, played six draws and lost nine outings.
In his five matches in charge, Antipas went on to pick up eight points from a possible 15, holding Monomotapa to a 1-1 draw in his first assignment before beating FC Platinum 2-0 at home and collecting maximum points against Tripple B in Beitbridge.
He saw his charges surrender a 2-0 lead against champions Dynamos at Barbourfields Stadium in a match that ended 2-2. They also lost 2-1 to Triangle on the last day of the season.
In an interview yesterday, Chicken Inn chairman Lifa Ncube confirmed that Antipas, who had been given the mandate to guide them up to the end of the 2013 season, had been retained.
“Our preparations are starting on January 7, 2014 and we are pleased to announce that Joey Antipas has been retained and so will the technical team. We will not be making any changes to the technical team but obviously, we are going to reinforce our playing squad.
“There are a number of players who we are talking to and there are some that we are going to be releasing but what I can say is that we will be retaining most of our players,” said Ncube.
Antipas was being assisted by Julius Ndlovu and Sikhumbuzo Banda.
The Gamecocks boss was confident that most of their key players would be staying put as “there is no team with greener pastures than Chicken Inn” in Zimbabwe.
There has been talk of 2013 Soccer Star of the Year finalist Kudakwashe Mahachi, who was on loan from Bantu Rovers, leaving the Gamecocks for Dynamos.
Ncube said they were keen on retaining the player but everything lay with his parent club Bantu Rovers.
“To be honest, Bantu Rovers are in charge of Mahachi but as a club we want to retain his services. He has not communicated to us if he wants to continue with us or not,” said Ncube.
The player also looks unsettled and unsure of his plans as earlier yesterday he posted this message on his Facebook wall:
“Stay strong, life is hard but believe that there’s always a rainbow after every storm.
Cannot wait to wear the blue and white jersey, DeMbare destination fulfilled.
“Tozora boys next year”.
Former Highlanders, New England Revolution of USA and AmaZulu striker Mkhokheli Dube, who had a power-finish to the 2013 season following the arrival of Antipas, is one of the players the Gamecocks want to retain. Dube’s contract with the fast-foods outlets powered club ends at the end of the month.
Antipas is understood to have also told management at Chicken Inn of his desire to land veteran Hwange striker Gilbert Zulu.
Ncube said they were yet to engage FC Platinum on Zephaniah Ngodzo who was on loan and spent the better part of the season on the sidelines with coaches preferring to use skipper Felix Chindungwe and Charles Mutero in central defence.
Chicken Inn also need to tie down key players like Chindungwe, Danny “Deco” Phiri and frustrated Tonisani Sibelo who have told their close friends that they want out of the Gamecocks to pursue new challenges.
Online Reporter