Chronicle Editor
Ricky Zililo, Senior Sports Reporter
WHILE the Caps and Dynamos derby in Harare tomorrow will capture the imagination of thousands of football fans, neutrals and pure lovers of the game will be at Hartsfield Ground today for the Chicken Inn-How Mine clash.
Chicken Inn are rushing towards the Castle Premiership title and they need no less than maximum points if they are to keep their hopes alive.
The Gamecocks top the table with 48 points, two ahead of second placed Ngezi Platinum Stars who are away against Shabanie Mine in Zvishavane tomorrow.
With third placed Dynamos heavily breathing down Chicken Inn’s neck, the Gamecocks who won the 2015 championship are hard-pressed for a victory against Kelvin Kaindu coached How Mine.
“It’s a tough game. Local derbies are tricky and players are the ones who decide the outcome. What we want are maximum points and we will do everything possible to grind a result,” said Rahman Gumbo, Chicken Inn’s coach.
Last weekend Chicken Inn edged Hwange 1-0 in their typical “smash and grab” fashion as they registered their 11th 1-0 win of the season.
It was captain Moses Jackson who scored the priceless first-half goal after riding high to turn in an Obidiah Tarumbwa cross from a corner kick.
The Gamecocks’ defence has only conceded a mere nine goals in 23 matches.
Beating How Mine will see Chicken Inn extend their unbeaten run to nine games. They were last defeated on July 1, losing 2-0 to Chapungu. Since then, they have won six games and played two draws – 0-0 against Dynamos and 1-1 away at FC Platinum.
Players expected to lead Chicken Inn’s quest for maximum points include Soccer Star of the Year finalist hopeful Innocent Mucheneka, Tarumbwa, veteran Clemence Matawu, Jackson and goalkeeper Elvis Chipezeze.
How Mine are wary of Chicken Inn, with the gold miners’ coach Kaindu predicting a difficult assignment made near impossible by recent events haunting his team.
The gold miners have been bedevilled by players’ protests against non-payment of outstanding salaries and allowances.
“We’re playing a side that has been consistent in terms of picking up points, they are organised and motivated which makes the game difficult. However, everybody in our camp is back and after regrouping following that setback (losing to Dynamos 6-0). We collected maximum points against Bantu Rovers last week and it’s important to continue from that,” said Kaindu.
The gold miners will be without injured trio of utility player Tsepo Ranthokoane, striker Nqobile Ndlovu and left back Nefitary Ndale.
Meanwhile, the Bulawayo City-ZPC Kariba encounter will precede the Chicken Inn and How Mine game.
Fixtures
Today: Yadah FC v Bantu Rovers (Morris), Bulawayo City v ZPC Kariba (Hartsfield, 1PM), How Mine v Chicken Inn (Hartsfield, 3PM), Harare City v Tsholotsho FC (Rufaro, 1PM, SuperSport), Black Rhinos v Triangle United (Rufaro, 3PM, SuperSport)
Tomorrow: Caps United v Dynamos (National Sports Stadium, 3PM, SuperSport), Highlanders v Chapungu (Hartsfield), Hwange v FC Platinum (Colliery), Shabanie Mine v Ngezi Platinum (Maglas)
— @ZililoR
Online Reporter