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JOEY Antipas and his Chicken Inn side have defied the odds in this year’s Castle Lager Premiership campaign and today they are looking to maintain their control of the title race when they host ZPC Kariba at Luveve.
The Gamecocks are currently enjoying a four-point cushion at the summit and appear on course for a strong finish in the fight for their maiden championship title.
Antipas believes their opponents in today’s match, ZPC Kariba, provide a potential banana skin. The Kariba side, now under the tutelage of Sunday Chidzambwa, are desperate for points following a dip in form that had left them in the relegation mix.
Antipas said they will stay positive despite the threat from ZPC Kariba who have been on recovery mode of late and are unbeaten in their last three matches. “I think it will be a difficult game because ZPC Kariba have also been picking form of late. So we need to be at our best. But we are always positive,” said Antipas.
The Gamecocks will be without three key men, who include the Young Warriors duo of Lawrence Mhlanga and Raphael Kutinyu, away on national duty at the Under-23 Africa Games.
Skipper Danny Phiri will also sit on the sidelines after accumulating three yellow cards.
“We are missing three key players but we have to fight on,” said Antipas.
“Challenges are always there in football but that’s the nature of the game. You cannot really run away from them, you have to face them.”
Chicken Inn are at the top with 43 points and their nearest rivals Dynamos have 39.
While DeMbare and third-placed team FC Platinum are cancelling each other out this afternoon, the number four side Triangle will be looking to recover some lost ground in the fight for the championship.
The Sugar Sugar Boys made a flying start this season but it appears they have been losing the plot of late.
Victory has evaded them in their last three matches and their coach Kevin Kaindu knows they need something better when they travel to lowly Whawha this afternoon.
Triangle handed Whawha their heaviest defeat this season when they thrashed them 6-0 in the first leg but they are a bit cautious this time.
“I think it’s getting tight for everyone in the league. I believe this is the most difficult phase of the competition because no one wants to drop points; from the bottom-placed team to the one at the top.
“So, we have to tighten up.
“We scored a quite a number of goals when we played them in the first leg but if you look at this team called Whawha, they have managed to record some surprise results even against some of the big teams in the league.
“So, this makes them a dangerous team. But our philosophy will not change. We always play for points and hopefully we will continue attacking.”
Triangle have slumped to fourth place in the race with 36 points and they need a win to revive their campaign.
Online Reporter