adminRicky Zililo Senior Sports Reporter
CASTLE Lager Premier Soccer League table toppers Chicken Inn believe the outcome of Sunday’s clash with Dynamos at Rufaro Stadium in Harare will determine the direction of their campaign.Sunday’s trip is Chicken Inn’s second to the capital this season, having returned to Bulawayo empty handed in their first visit after going down 0-2 to Harare City in Week Two.
The Gamecocks managed to recover from that setback, winning four games on the trot. Chicken Inn registered home wins over Tsholotsho (1-0), Whawha (2-0) and How Mine (1-0). Their other victory was a morale boosting 3-1 away win over FC Platinum.
Heading for the top of the table clash, Chicken Inn who are at the summit, leading Dynamos by a point, are wary of DeMbare.
“We don’t want to put ourselves under unnecessary pressure by thinking much about the game. Of course Dynamos are a big team with lots of history and are the defending champions but on Sunday it will be a new ball game altogether. They’re breathing on our neck and this clash couldn’t have come at a better time as it will give us a reality check whether we can effectively compete for the championship or not,” said Chicken Inn coach Joey Antipas.
The championship winning coach with Motor Action in 2010 thinks that victory over the Harare giants, who Chicken Inn will be meeting for the ninth time since being promoted into the topflight in 2011, will be a psychological boost.
History favours Dynamos who’ve beaten Chicken Inn twice — 1-0 in the first meeting in July 2011 and 2-0 in May 2012. DeMbare registered both victories at Rufaro Stadium.
The Gamecock’s only victory over the champions was a 1-0 win in September 2012.
Since then, the games ended in draws.
Antipas isn’t reading much into history and says teamwork will get him the result.
“So much has changed since our last meeting with them. We’ve brought in some rejuvenated boys who are eager to make a mark and they’ve lost quite a number of players. We’ve kept basically the same squad which means we’ve got continuity. So history won’t matter.”
The Gamecocks’ trump card seems to be Edmore Chirambadare, the striker plucked from Tsholotsho FC has scored three goals in six matches and created a few.
The young striker who received a national team call up barely two months since his Premiership debut, is proving to be a nightmare for most opponents.
However, Chirambadare has to shrug off a light injury to be able to play against Dynamos. Seasoned strikers Mkhokheli Dube and Ishmael Lawe are on standby to partner Mitchell Katsvairo should Chirambadare fail to make it. The Gweru-born left footer yesterday, told our Harare Bureau that his dream team was Dynamos.
Chicken Inn will miss the services of suspended captain Danny “Deco” Phiri who was red-carded in the 1-0 win against How Mine. In the absence of Phiri, Antipas will either use Thabani Goredema or Brian Juru in central midfield.
The Gamecocks are also monitoring the progress of rightback Passmore Bernard.
On the other hand, Dynamos as of yesterday had a clean bill of health.
The champions are expecting a tough encounter.
“So far so good our preparations are going on well and everyone is available for selection. Chicken Inn have been playing very well and they’re above us meaning that it will be a tough game. The players are all geared up for the game, judging from the amount of work they’re putting in training,” said Dynamos coach David Mandigora.
Some of the players that Chicken Inn should look out for include Ronald Chitiyo, ex-Gamecocks midfielder Walter Mukanga, fit-again winger Masimba Mambare and strikers Simba Nhivi and Dominic Chungwa.
Dynamos is the only team in the league yet to test defeat and they will be out to maintain their streak.
Online Reporter