adminRicky Zililo Sports Reporter
BULAWAYO based Chicken Inn FC yesterday held their training session at Mandava Stadium in preparation for tomorrow’s Mbada Diamonds Cup first round match against Shabanie Mine in Zvishavane.
The move by the fast foods outlets sponsored club to get a feel of the match venue shows that they are serious about their game with their coach Mandla Mpofu declaring that they are out to break their Mbada Cup jinx that has seen them twice bow out in the first round.
Last year, Chicken Inn were bundled out of the Mbada Diamonds Cup when they allowed relegated Gunners to come back from behind to win 3-2 at Pelandaba Stadium in Gwanda.
In 2011, it was Kiglon who showed Chicken Inn the exit in the first round of the Mbada Diamonds Cup with a 3-1 win at Mucheke Stadium.
Mpofu who led Chicken Inn to their first Premiership silverware, the NetOne Charity Shield, at the beginning of the year, said they have set their sights on winning the Mbada Diamonds Cup.
“We are in this competition to win it and we have prepared in a manner that we feel will lead us all the way to the final. Obviously, history in this competition doesn’t favour us because the team always went out in the first round but I believe that this is the time to show we have a strong side and our NetOne Charity Shield win was not a fluke.
“We know that Shabanie Mine are going to be difficult but we are aware that for us to reach the final we have to clear this first hurdle and beat teams to realise our dream,” Mpofu said.
Chicken Inn and Shabanie Mine are meeting for the fourth time this season with the Gamecocks having won the first league encounter 2-1 at Maglas Stadium before playing to a 1-1 draw in the reverse fixture at Luveve.
Shabanie Mine then knocked out Chicken Inn with a 2-0 victory in the quarter-finals of the BancABC Sup8r Cup that was played at Mandava Stadium.
The club from the asbestos mining town went on to lift the BancABC Sup8r Cup after beating town rivals FC Platinum in the final played last Saturday at the same venue.
Mpofu said they are not intimidated by the fact that Shabanie Mine are still basking in cup glory.
“Of course Shabanie Mine go into the game as favourites which to me I think is a motivating factor for us because we have nothing to lose compared to them.
Facing a team that has won a major competition is in itself self motivating and I hope that the players will carry the same attitude they showed during training,” Mpofu said.
The Gamecocks coach said defender Guide Goddard and midfielder Brian Juru are the only two players that have been ruled out for tomorrow’s game with Thabani Goredema who is carrying a calf injury expected to pass a late fitness test.
Goddard is nursing a knee injury while Juru injured his ankle.
In the absence of Goddard, Mpofu is likely to have captain Felix Chindungwe partnering Zephaniah Ngodzo or Moses Jackson at central defence while Tonisani Sibelo and Brian Mbiriri will play as wingbacks.
Their midfield department is likely to be built around national team duo of Danny “Deco” Phiri and Kudakwashe Mahachi, veteran Clemence Matawu and Canaan Mpofu with Thomas Chimenya, Lenience Mpofu, Tendai Mukambi, Evans Chikwaikwai and Dillon Chivandire vying for striking positions.
Chicken Inn should watch out for Shabanie Mine’s strikers Caleb Masocha and gangly Tarisai Rukanda, former Gunners player Valentine Ndaba, their captain Tafadzwa Mombeshora and Fungai Chirinda who are Luke Masomere’s match winners.
Fixtures
Tomorrow: Shabanie Mine v Chicken Inn (Mandava), Caps United v Motor Action (Sakubva), Buffaloes v Black Mambas (Rimuka)
Sunday: Hwange v FC Platinum (Colliery), How Mine v Black Rhinos (Barbourfields), Harare City v Monomotapa (Rufaro), Dynamos v Tripple B (Gibbo),Highlanders v Triangle (Barbourfields)
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