Chronicle Editor
Ricky Zililo, Senior Sports Reporter
HERENTALS FC have sent shivers down the spine of Chicken Inn after scalping FC Platinum 1-0 last weekend.
The Students meet the Gamecocks in a Castle Lager Premier Soccer League at Luveve Stadium tomorrow.
Chicken Inn have dominated games against Herentals, who broke into the topflight in 2018, winning three and drawing once in their four PSL clashes, but they remain cautious of the Students.
In Herentals’ maiden season, Chicken Inn won the first-leg 2-0 in Bulawayo before playing to a goalless draw in Harare. The Gamecocks then clobbered Herentals 4-1 in the first-leg in Bulawayo and completed a double with a 2-0 away win in the 2019 season.
Chicken Inn coach Joey Antipas said they will have to fight hard for maximum points against Herentals without midfield kingpin Richard Hachiro, who has been ruled out of the encounter due to persistent back pains.
Hachiro was outstanding last weekend when Chicken Inn came from a goal down to force a 1-1 draw against Highlanders.
Antipas said the box-to-box midfielder missed all the week’s training sessions.
Antipas wants maximum points to go top of the league table before log leaders Dynamos see action against bottom side Bulawayo City in Harare 24 hours later.
Chicken Inn are second on the table with 27 points from 13 games and two behind DeMbare.
“Besides Hachiro, everyone trained and our preparations were good. We’re facing a side that is coming from a confidence boosting win against the champions and this shows the pedigree they have. If we underrate them, then we’ll be digging our own grave. One thing that I know is that they’re not easy meat; we have to be aware and 100 percent ready for a fight.
“Since we’re playing at home, we have to try and force a positive result to keep us going. We also have to be more patient and calmer with the ball, try to create openings and take chances that come our way,” said Antipas.
Against Highlanders, Chicken Inn’s back line was caught unawares as they ball watched a cross that was connected by Bosso winger Godfrey Makaruse.
“Against Highlanders we paid dearly for lapse in concentration as the ball passed in the six-yard box and no one was there to clear the lines. We have to be more defence-oriented in clearing lines and our positioning. That goal (against Highlanders) should have been cleared. Going to the Herentals game, we’ve been working on defensive lapses,” Antipas said.
The Gamecocks will bank on leading scorer Brian Muza and Marlvin Hwata to lead their attack, with captain Moses Jackson partnering Itai Mabhunu and Nielson Ketala in defence. Shepherd Mhlanga, Brett Amidu and George Majika are expected to pull the strings in midfield.
PSL Matchday 13 fixtures
Today: Cranborne Bullets vs Yadah (Sakubva)
Today: Chicken Inn vs Herentals (Luveve), Harare City v Manica Diamonds (National Sports Stadium), ZPC Kariba vs Whawha (Nyamhunga), FC Platinum vs Caps United (Mandava), Black Rhinos vs Ngezi Platinum Stars (Sakubva)
Sunday: Bulawayo Chiefs vs Highlanders (Barbourfields), Dynamos vs Bulawayo City (National Sports Stadium), Tenax CSFC vs Triangle United (Sakubva)
-@ZililoR
Online Reporter