Gamecocks to finalise 2024 technical team

FORMER champions Chicken Inn are expected to finalise their new technical set-up by the end of this week.

This follows the re-engagement of Joey Antipas late last year to replace the sacked Prince Matore who with his assistant Farai Tawachera did not impress club bosses with a seventh-place finish.

Last season, Antipas was re-assigned to the position of technical director while his long-term assistant Matore and Tawachera took charge of the team because of the then Caf A requirement by the Premier Soccer League.

However, following the temporary relief granted to Caf B coaching licence holders by the Zifa Normalisation Committee, Antipas can now sit on the Chicken Inn bench.

Matore and Tawachera are believed to have been shown the exit door but the club has remained mum over such developments taking place.
Former Chicken Inn player Guide Goddard looks certain to be promoted into Joey’s backroom staff.

Chicken Inn media liaison officer Nkululeko Nkala yesterday told Zimpapers Sports Hub that they were yet to finalise their technical team for 2024 going forward.

“We are still finalising and placing the final touches on the setup. We will possibly have a standpoint by the end of the week,” said Nkala.

Last season, the Gamecocks failed to meet expected results managing to post eleven wins, 16 draws and seven defeats in the process amassing 49 points, 17 adrift of eventual league winners Ngezi Platinum Stars.

Chicken Inn is believed to have already signed Brighton Makopa, Kelly Shiyandindi and Mthokozisi Msebe ahead of the start of the new season.

Hwange captain Shiyandindi and striker Makopa are set to join from Chipangano while Msebe who has caught the eye of several clubs locally will join from Bulawayo Chiefs.

Meanwhile, midfielder Michael Charamba is trying his luck at Tanzanian side Simba SC.

The 2023 Soccer Star of the Year finalist is part of the Simba team that has been playing in some tournament in Zanzibar and could make a move should he impress during his assessment.

However, he was not in the team that played Jamburi on Monday evening.

Charamba played in an invitational cup game last Friday.

Last year, Charamba renewed his contract at Chicken Inn and feels indebted to the Bulawayo side after they stood with him following a career-threatening injury, which ruled him out of action for the better part of the 2022 league season.

He gave a good account of himself playing as a winger for Chicken Inn last season and had several spectacular goals from outside the box. In the event he leaves, Chicken Inn may need to go into the market to hunt for a replacement. — @innocentskizoe