Chicken Inn overcome Harare City

Mehluli Sibanda Senior Sports Reporter
Chicken Inn…………………………………………….. (2) 2
Harare City………………………………………………. (0) 1
ZIMBABWEAN champions Chicken Inn prepared for their Confederation of African Football Champions League preliminary round second leg against Mamelodi Sundowns with a narrow victory over Harare City in a friendly played at Barbourfields Stadium yesterday. In a game of two halves, Chicken Inn completely dominated City in the first stanza which saw them score through Physwell Madhazi and Obadiah Tarumbwa. Harare City, the country’s representatives in the Caf Confederation Cup came out strongly in the second period and were rewarded when striker Francisco Zekumbawira was upended inside the box by Moses Jackson to earn the visitors a penalty which was converted by Raphael Manuvire.

Chicken Inn coach Joey Antipas who watched the match from the terraces and let his assistant Prince Matore take charge of the team was happy with the result with the only aspect of the game they have to work on being their fitness levels as they prepare to meet South Africa side Mamelodi Sudowns in Pretoria on Saturday.
The Gamecocks carry with them a one goal advantage to the second leg after their 1-0 triumph in Bulawayo in the first leg.

With the match to be played at night, the Chicken Inn management are said to be making plans to make sure that they secure training under floodlights for the team in South Africa so that come Saturday night, the players have some experience.

His counterpart Taurai Mangwiro, despite the defeat was also satisfied with what he saw as his team gearing up for the second leg of their Caf Confederation Cup away to AS Adema.

The Sunshine Boys head off to Madagascar on Wednesday with a 3-2 lead from the first leg played in Harare.
In the first match played between reserve sides from the two teams, Chicken Inn triumphed 2-0 despite finishing the encounter with 10 men on the field of play after defender Ben Nyahunzvi was sent off towards the end of the first half.

Veteran midfielder Clemence Matawu who has been sidelined by a calf injury played the entire 90 minutes for the reserve side with chances that he will get picked for the return leg against Sundowns.