Injured trio worries Chicken Inn

FORMER Castle Lager Premier Soccer League champions Chicken Inn are keeping their fingers crossed in anticipation that three key players, striker Brian Muza, holding midfielder Tafadzwa Kutinyu and first choice goalkeeper Donovan Bernard will be up and about when they face fast improving Greenfuel in a first round Chibuku Super Cup match set for Luveve Stadium on Saturday.

Muza, Kutinyu and Bernard sat it out at the weekend when Gamecocks were beaten 1-0 by Premier Soccer League newboys Sheasham because of injury.

Bernard, a former national team, How Mine and Ngezi Platinum Stars dependable goalminder, was not between the sticks when the Simbisa Brands sponsored side beat Hwange 2-1 in a league match that was played a fortnight ago.

It was a development that saw his equally gifted colleague Pride Zendera being thrust into the starting line up.

“We are still closely monitoring the trio. These are some of our key players whom we will need to have in such a fixture. However, we will have a clear picture on their recovery tomorrow (today). We are hoping they will get the greenlight to play from our medical team,” said Chicken Inn head coach, Prince Matore.

While he acknowledged that Greenfuel have of late become a tricky side to play against, Matore said they were looking forward to getting the job done in 90 minutes and avoid a penalty lottery whose result can either go either way.

“They have been playing well collecting maximum points. Greenfuel have improved a lot under the mentorship of Rodwell Dhlakama and it will be game on, on Saturday. It’s all systems go for us and our main target is to get a positive result within 90 minutes. We will avoid going for a penalty shootout at all costs because that is a stage that belongs to any of the two clubs,” said the former Motor Action player who also had a playing stint in Poland.

In the previous edition of the Chibuku Super Cup competition, the Gamecocks were booted out by army side Black Rhinos in a quarter-final match that ended 9-8 in favour of the latter after a pulsating penalty lottery.

The game, which was played at Rusape’s Vengere Stadium, had ended one all in regulation time after Malvin Hwata had found the opener for Matore’s man before Farai Banda restored parity right in the last minutes of the tie.

Also scheduled to take place in Bulawayo on Saturday, is the game between Dynamos and Simba Bhora at Barbourfields Stadium.

The other first round matches will see Highlanders play host to their city neighbours Bulawayo Chiefs at Barbourfields on Sunday.

Last year, Chiefs eliminated Bosso in the same cup competition in which they proceeded to win the trophy after getting the better of Herentals College in a final match that was staged at a packed Emagumeni.

CAPS United will entertain Hwange at Gweru’s Bata Stadium while Ngezi Platinum Stars fight it out against Triangle at Mhondoro’s Baobab Stadium.

Herentals will have a date with Luke Masomere’s ZPC Kariba at Mandava Stadium. — @FungaiMuderere