DERBY DOUBLE; Two all-Bulawayo duels as league resumes

Fungai Muderere .
Castle Lager Premier Soccer League action resumes after a break for the Independence Cup semi-final and final action.

The Premier Soccer League 2016 campaign Week Twoaï¿½ï¿½s action saw a drop in the number of goals scored with only 16 produced down from 22.

However, there is an absolute feast of action for Bulawayo football lovers as the Week Three PSL menu presents them with two potentially explosive derby ties.

Red-hot league defending champions, Chicken Inn who are basking in the glory of edging rivals Highlanders 2-1 in an exhilarating cup final at the National Sports Stadium on Monday, take on equally tricky How Mine at Luveve Stadium on Saturday.

Luveve Stadium, which is Chicken Innaï¿½ï¿½s favourite hunting ground, has not played host to a league match this season after being initially condemned by the PSLaï¿½ï¿½s grounds inspection committee citing rubble left over from renovations.

aï¿½?Derby matches are difficult. Our Independence Cup victory has come and gone. We are now focusing on league action. How Mine are a good side and we will be looking forward to a good match. We will need to give out all what we have,aï¿½? said Gamecocks head coach and countryaï¿½ï¿½s reigning gaffer of the year Joey Antipas.

Antipas welcomes back the trio of skipper Danny aï¿½?Decoaï¿½? Phiri, holding creative midfielder Tafadzwa Kutinyu and striker Moses Demera from a week-long trial stint with South Africaaï¿½ï¿½s topflight side Golden Arrows.

While Chicken Inn and How Mine have met six times in the topflight league with Gamecocks winning three matches and How Mine two, the former will need to be wary of gold minersaï¿½ï¿½ pint-sized attacking midfielder Pasca Manhanga, ex Warriors and Highlanders player Charles Sibanda and hard running Kuda Musharu.

When on song, the trio can easily prove to be difficult to handle for the Moses Jackson and Lawrence aï¿½?Dazzyaï¿½? Mhlanga marshalled Chicken Inn backline.

Chicken Inn areAï¿½ yet to lose and to concede a goal in 360 minutes PSL action and on theAï¿½ other hand Kelvin Kaindu and his How Mine boys are also yet to taste defeat, meaning itaï¿½ï¿½s Game On at Luveve Stadium.

aï¿½?We will not take anything away from Chicken Inn. They are the defending champions and they have a reputation to protect. They have been winning week-in-week-out meaning they have all the confidence.

aï¿½?However, this is a derby tie, anything can happen in 90 minutes. Our preparations for the match have gone on well,aï¿½? said Kaindu.

The gold miners welcome back their speedy winger Timothy January from the treatment room where he left defender Nelson Tachi.

The other City of Kings derby match will see bruised Highlanders do battle against buoyant Tsholotsho FC at Barbourfields Stadium on Sunday. In their last league encounter, the Zhwane Boys edged other city rivals Bulawayo City 1-0 to register their first triumph of the season.

Former champions Dynamos who are yet to register a win and to celebrate a goal this season, have an away fixture against newboys Mutare City who have also lost two of their opening matches.

Philani aï¿½?Beefyaï¿½? Ncube mentored Bulawayo City will be away to ZPC Kariba in a match set for Nyamhunga Stadium.

Hwange will be hoping to finally get their act together when they welcome newboys Ngezi Platinum at the Colliery Stadium.

FC Platinum entertain Chapungu at Mandava Stadium. Gibbo Stadium will be the venue for a match between Triangle United and Border Strikers. CAPS United and Harare City will square it off at National Sports Stadium.

PSL Week Three Fixtures

Sunday
CAPS United v Harare City (National Sports Stadium), Mutare City Rovers v Dynamos (Sakubva), Hwange v Ngezi Platinum Stars (Colliery), Tsholotsho v Highlanders (Barbourfields),Triangle United v Border Strikers (Gibbo)