adminUnited in a top-of-the-table Castle Lager Premier Soccer League tie at the National Sports Stadium this afternoon.
Chicken Inn are the surprise packets in this year’s Castle Lager Premiership as they have set the pace with 13 points while CAPS, who convincingly won their first three games, are on 10 points.
A win for newcomers Chicken Inn, who are yet to lose a game this season, will see them consolidating their position at the top of the log while CAPS are aiming for a win that will take them to the top.
It promises to be a lively encounter, as each team will be playing to be the pacesetters.
CAPS United could be under pressure from a section of their fans who bayed for coach Moses “Bambo” Chunga’s head after the team lost to 2-0 Blue Ribbon and even after the 1-1 draw against Black Mambas last Sunday.
How quickly some of the fans had forgotten the way the Green Machine got of to a flying start in the league as they beat Zimbabwe Saints 5-3 in an entertaining game before they sailed 5-2 over Shooting Stars and then thumping Shabanie Mine 4-0.
Bambo is hoping that his machine will destroy Chicken Inn he believes he has managed to sort out the problems from the last two games.
“It’s good that we are going into this match in second position and we should be aiming to improve from there.
“Our target is to get the three points and reclaim the top spot.
“We have to get back to winning ways,” said Chunga.
Chunga will be missing leading striker Simba Sithole who is in camp with the Under-23 team playing Botswana in an All-Africa Games qualifier at Rufaro tomorrow.
Sithole is currently leading the scorers’ chart on the Castle Lager Lague with five goals but Chunga has Evans Gwekwe-kwerere and Washington Pakamisa to fill the gap.
CAPS United will be hoping that goalkeeper and skipper Edmore Sibanda will have recovered from an injury.
Attacking midfielder Pride Tafirenyika is an option to provide goals.
Striker Clive Kawinga has failed to make a mark and could be introduced, in the absence of Sithole, and he could use his opportunity well.
Chunga’s team scored 14 goals in the first three games but have just one goal in the last two games.
“We did not fight for wins in the last games but we have identified the problem and hope it will be rectified,” said Chunga.
Chicken Inn could now be starting to feel the pressure as they are at the top of the log but their coach Philani “Beefy” Ncube is hopeful that they will maintain their unbeaten run.
“We will play our usual game but I think the players are now worn out.
“But we are hoping for a positive result and hope team work will help us through,” said Ncube.
Ncube also attributed a sound management at the club as has having provided the perfect conditions for their fine run.
“We are playing as a team and I cannot single out a department which has done better than the others.
“So far it has been good for us and the management has helped us a lot,” he said.
Ncube will be hoping that steely defender Herbert Dick and aggressive striker Thomas Chimenya pass a late fitness test.
“Dick and Chimenya received knocks in the last game although they have been training.
“But I will have to talk to the team doctors and find out if they can play.
“I have talked to Chimenya and he is willing to play but the doctors have to approve,” said Ncube.
Chimenya, a former Railstars player, had been a revelation at the club with his darting runs and has been one of the outstanding players so far in the Premiership this season.
Chicken Inn thumped Shooting 4-1 in their last tie and will be drawing confidence from the fact that fellow debutants Blue Ribbon shocked the highly fancied CAPS.
Goalkeeper Liberty and Sikhumbuzo Banda are in the squad that left Bulawayo yesterday.
Thabani Goredema, who was at CAPS United last season, will be facing his former team-mates while overlapping wingback Frank Mvula could attempt to unlock the Green Machine defence.
The newboys are coming into the game drunk on confidence after their win over Shooting Stars but the Wild Boys’ coach Patson Ndabambi believes they were their own worst enemies.
“We went into the match after beating champions Motor Action and the boys then believed that just because we beat the champions then you can beat everyone.
“We were our worst enemies as we let in easy goals.
“It’s like we gave Chicken Inn a Christmas present,” said Ndabambi.
Shooting Stars face Highlanders at Gwanzura today after the game was finally given a green light.
The tie had been hanging in the balance as the venue had also been earmarked for the May Day celebrations.
“Our preparations for the game have been disrupted because were told the game was off only to be told that it’s on again.
“However, we have prepared and are ready to face Bosso,” said the youthful coach.
Shooting Stars have Elliot Matsika to guide the team while James Chitereki is also in the team although Maxwell Karimanzira and Enerst Chimusoro are out due to injuries.
Highlanders are never easy customers and have the potential to inflict another defeat to the Wild Boys.
Bosso will be buoyed by an expected big crowd, which will be rooting for them, after their encouraging start to the season.
There was a big crowd, predominantly Highlanders, when Bosso beat Gunners in Mabvuku on their last visit to the capital.
In the other games, FC Platium return to action still mourning their coach Benjamin Moyo who drowned in a swimming pool on Good Friday.
The moneybags will play Black Mambas at Morris Depot today with Philani Mabhena leading the team in a caretaker capacity.
Champions Motor Action face a tricky Blue Ribbon who have already claimed the scalp of CAPS United.
Poor Shabanie, who are still winless and goalless, face fellow miners Hwange at the Colliery.
Fixtures
Today
CAPS v Chicken Inn (NSS), Gunners v Kiglon (Lafarge), Shooting Stars v Highlanders (Gwanzura), Black Mambas v FC Platinum (Morris Depot)
Tomorrow
Blue Ribbon v Motor Action (NSS), Zimbabwe Saints v Monoz (Luveve), Shabanie v Hwange (Maglas)
Monday
Dynamos v Masvingo (Rufaro)
Wednesday
FC Platinum v Shabanie (Maglas)
Team PWDLFAPts
Chicken Inn541011313
CAPS Utd5 31115810
Motor Action53117110
Blue Ribbon 53118510
Masvingo 5230639
Highlanders 5221528
Zim Saints 5212787
FC Platinum 3201526
Monoz 5131466
Dynamos 5122235
Kiglon 5122355
Black Mambas 5113534
Hwange5041344
Shooting Stars51044103
Gunners4022142
Shabanie 40040120
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