adminBy Grace Chingoma
NEWBOYS Chicken Inn are quietly going on with their business and have roped in some experienced players ahead of their maiden season in the Premiership.
The Bulawayo side, which won promotion on a Southern Region ticket, will be third team from the City of Kings joining giants Highlanders and Premiership returnees Zimbabwe Saints.
The club has secured experienced players such as former Warriors’ defender Herbert Dick and Daniel Zokoto, who has returned home after a frustrating spell at Democratic Republic of Congo champions TP Mazembe.
They have also acquired the Bantu Rovers duo of goalkeeper Liberty Chirava and Danny Phiri, former Motor Action midfielder Phillip Makanje, ex Gunners defender Trymore Mtisi and former CAPS United and Kiglon midfielder Thabani Goredema.
Chicken Inn have also secured the signatures of former Highlanders striker Abraham Mbaiwa, Young Warriors defender Morris Kadzola, who was with Kiglon last season, and pair of Samuel Gadzikwa and Felix Chindungwe who were on Shootings Stars’ books.
Coach Philani Ncube said they were still chasing a few more players and were interested in the signature of veteran goalkeeper Ephraim Mazarura.
The former Dynamos stopper terminated his contract with Democratic Republic of Congo Premiership side FC Lupopo over unfulfilled promises and chose to come back home and revive his career.
Chicken Inn began their preseason training five weeks ago.
“Our training has been going on well. We have trained for a couple of weeks now and the team is slowly taking shape.
“From the way our preparations are going on, I am confident we will stand the heat in the Premiership.
“We have not raided the market like what other teams are doing but just want players who can deliver and we have put faith on young players who are still itching to make names for themselves,” said Ncube. The club still has the bulk of players who won promotion with the team. Players such as Skumbuzo Banda, Tinashe Gwaringesu, Brian Mbiriri, Guide Goddard and Tendai Mkambi played a key role in the campaign and should form the core of the team.
Ncube will be assisted by Dalubuhle Bhebhe while Julius Ndlovu is the goalkeepers’ coach.
Former Sundowns secretary Tawengwa Hara is the club’s secretary and believes his team’s stable financial status should help them withstand the Premiership heat.
“We are sponsored by Innscor Africa under their brand Chicken Inn they are a big company so on sponsorship we are home and dry. When we were still playing in Division One we scouted for players so we have not been very active on the market but would be trying to promote young talent,” said Hara.
Hara added that his club was not comfortable with the new PSL rule of registering 25 players the entire season.
“We are yet to finalise with all the players we want. The new rules stipulate that we should register 25 players but we want to push that to 30 players.
“PSL wants to implement the Harare Declaration of registering 25 players but you still find there are some things, which were agreed then, which have not implemented.”
“So will push the motion at the AGM to be allowed to register more players ” said Hara.
Chicken Inn would be using Luveve for their home matches but Hara said they were also considering using Chinotimba in Victoria Falls if it is renovated to stage Premiership matches.
He further said the club would try to establish supporter’s branches in all the towns where there are Chicken Inn outlets.
Online Reporter