admin
Veronica Gwaze, Sports Reporter
AS Chicken Inn host TelOne at Luveve this afternoon, many have been quick to point at their sixth-place on the Castle Lager Premiership log standing as an indication of their fall from grace.
Completing the season in this position (six) last year, the Bulawayo Metropolitan-based side showed some consistency for the greater part of the season, only tasting defeat seven times.
The Joey Antipas-led side, just like the previous years, would remain in the championship matrix until the dying stages of the season.
However, this time, after 29 outings, they have already lost seven games.
With 42 points from 29 matches, they are virtually out of the championship race with only Simba Bhora and FC Platinum now the only two realistic contenders.
Shamva-based Simba Bhora lead the race with 60 points, while the platinum miners are second placed with 51 heading into week 31’s fixtures.
Chicken Inn’s inconsistency this season has left Antipas under scrutiny with many questioning the 63-year-old gaffer’s abilities vis-à-vis his age.
Yet, his paymasters are content.
“We may have not had the perfect first half to the season, largely due to injuries and other reasons, but the coach has the full support of the club, we believe that he still has so much to offer,” said club president Lifa Ncube.
“On Thursday, we had a meeting to discuss our season 2025 and he is part of our bigger plan.”
Ncube said after bringing in a bulk of greenhorns at the start of the year, they knew that title contention would be a mammoth task.
As such, their aim was to complete the season in a respectable position (top eight).
“We are on the right track, as planned. We are building something that will give up the championship in the next two seasons,” he said.
“Our plan is to keep our team intact next season and bring in one or two playmakers of ages 23 and below.
“We have a vibrant junior policy that we largely feed on so we have plenty of areas to get a playmaker from.”
This afternoon, most eyes will be on their opponents, Tel One, who are just four points above the drop zone.
Seated at 11th place with 35 points, the Wi-fi Boys will be hoping to overpower the Gamecocks and move as far away from relegation.
Antipas feels that while it is key for them to pick maximum points at home, his main aim is to give his youngsters some game time.
“We are not in a bad position and what most people might not be aware of is that we were not eyeing the championship race this year,” said Antipas.
“To bolster our squad, we will bring in a playmaker because this is what we have been lacking but otherwise we are okay in all departments.
“Most of our games in the recent past we have been bringing in youngsters especially in the second half.
“This is so that they get more game time for them to be ready come next year and I am satisfied with the progress.”
Online Reporter