INTRIGUING SHOWDOWN

RECENTLY crowned Castle Lager Premier Soccer League champions Chicken Inn go out in hunt for a double when they meet city neighbours Highlanders in what could be an intriguing Easycall Cup final set for Barbourfields Stadium this afternoon.
It is a match whose outcome is hard to predict looking at the “ruthless” manner in which the two teams dispatched their opponents in the semi-finals at the same venue last weekend.

Chicken Inn thumped Caps United 3-0 in a match which ended prematurely when their fans at the Mpilo End threw missiles and ran onto the pitch in protest against what they felt was biased officiating by Masvingo referee Makonese Masakadza.

Goals by Clemence Matawu, Tafadzwa Kutinyu and Michelle Katsvairo ensured the Gamecocks of a place in the final.
The next day saw Highlanders put up a marvellous display to despatch fierce rivals Dynamos 2-1, their first win over DeMbare in any competitive fixture at Barbourfields since 2006.

Highlanders head into the fixture without two of their experienced players, defender Erick Mudzingwa and striker Obadiah Tarumbwa who miss out after picking two yellow cards.

Tarumbwa’s booking was unnecessary as he picked up the yellow card from the substitutes bench when he charged at Dynamos striker Rodreck Mutuma who had been sent off for kicking Ralph Matema in an off the ball incident.

Chicken Inn have won a NetOne sponsored competition before, the 2013 Charity Shield with a 3-2 victory over Caps United in the final staged at Mandava Stadium. The Gamecocks, under the tutelage of Mandla Mpofu then pocketed $60 000 for their triumph. Only Moses Jackson, Canaan Nkomo, Brian Mbiriri and Danny Phiri were part of that triumphant Chicken Inn side in 2013 who are still with the club.

Interestingly, Chicken Inn were led by Felix Chindungwe who is most likely to captain Highlanders this afternoon.
The Gamecocks head into today’s fixture as firm favourites to walk away with the trophy having defeated Highlanders in both league matches this season. They overcame Bosso 2-1 in May and 3-2 in August to collect six points at stake in the two matches.

Highlanders have always found the going tough against Chicken Inn over the years with their only victory over the Innscor bankrolled side coming in May 2011, the Gamecocks’ first season at the top when Bosso triumphed 2-1 in a violence marred fixture at Luveve Stadium.

At a Press conference on Thursday Cosmas “Tsano” Zulu, the Highlanders interim technical advisor, said heading into the final as the less superior of the two sides favoured his side as it would put pressure on Chicken Inn.

“It is good that we get into the game as the underdogs. Chicken Inn is a good side, (but) we have to up our game. Our boys have to run for 90 minutes,’’ said Zulu.

The veteran mentor called upon the Bulawayo football fans to come out in their full force to give Highlanders their team the much needed backing, but was quick to plead with the supporters to desist from acts that were contrary to the spirit of the game like invading the pitch every time their team scored.

With Tarumbwa out, Highlanders are sure to pin their goal scoring hopes on the man-of-the-moment Knox “Mjomani” Mutizwa, who arrived in Bulawayo on Friday from South Africa where he had gone for trials at Bidvest Wits.

Mutizwa is expected to give the Chicken Inn defence likely to be composed of Lawrence Mhlanga, Passmore Bernard, Devine Lunga as well as Ben Nyahunzvi a torrid time with the assistance of the seasoned Matema.

A stimulating battle looms in midfield where Chicken Inn have Phiri, George Majika, Clemence Matawu, and Tafadzwa Kutinyu to fight it out for crucial possession with the likes of Rahman Kutsanzira, Valentine Ndaba, King Nadolo, Simon Munawa and Nqobizitha Masuku.

In Katsvairo and Edmore Chirambadare Chicken Inn boast of proven goal scorers who are sure to keep the Highlanders defenders on their toes the whole afternoon. Chindungwe, Bruce Kangwa, Teenage Hadebe and Tendai Ngulube have to be at their best to shield Ariel Sibanda from the marauding Chicken Inn strikers.

Whatever the outcome of today’s final, the fans who turn out for the match are certain to get entertained by the two Bulawayo teams. It is an opportunity for Joey Antipas to prove that winning the championship was no fluke by taking the $80 000 Easycall Cup prize money while for Amin Soma-Phiri, the acting Highlanders coach, the outcome of the match will certainly prove to the doubting Thomasses that he really deserves a substantive role at Bosso.