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Sikhumbuzo Moyo Senior Sports Reporter—-
HIGHLANDERS are this afternoon expected to bombard Chicken Inn from the very first whistle as coach Kelvin Kaindu seeks to collect first maximum points against the Gamecocks who have gagged their coach from speaking to the media. The second Castle Lager Premier Soccer League city derby is set for Barbourfields Stadium.
Probably stung by the attack on their executives, Chicken Inn reportedly ordered their coach Joey Antipas not to talk to the media.
“Sorry Sikhumbuzo, I have been told not to speak to newspapers,” said Antipas yesterday.
The Gamecocks, with one win under their belt this season, might be punished by the league for violating PSL standing orders.
Article 12 of the standing orders reads:
“Failure or refusal to conduct pre-match or post-match interviews by the head coach, captain or player, a fine of $125 will be imposed on the offending head coach, captain or player (while) the Club will be fined $500.”
Meanwhile, the 2013 NetOne Charity Shield winners are likely to give Highlanders a run for their money with some interesting duels expected especially in the middle of the park. Focus will be on skipper Danny “Deco” Phiri and Bosso’s Erick Mudzingwa.
Amahlolanyama have always played well against Chicken Inn despite the fact that they have only managed a 2-1 win since the Gamecocks joined the elite league in 2011. Critics argue that Chicken Inn were still inexperienced as they were coming from Division One. From that May 25, 2011 match, the two sides have played to draws with Chicken Inn posting a 1-0 win over Bosso in the first leg of last season.
Kaindu is this afternoon therefore determined to start winning against his neighbours.
“We believe in attacking football, there is no need to be in defence so tomorrow Highlanders are going to attack from the first whistle until the final,” said Kaindu, who will be without veteran midfielder Mthulisi Maphosa. Maphosa picked up a knee injury in the 1-1 draw against Hwange.
“He is definitely out of the tie,” said Kaindu.
In the battle of the coaches, Kaindu enjoys an advantage over his former Motor Action opponent today. In the two seasons that the two have clashed, Kaindu has emerged victorious on two occasions compared to Antipas’ one win with the other match ending in a draw.
The Zambian said Highlanders have always dominated Chicken Inn in creativity only to come second best in the final whistle.
“We have respect for Chicken Inn, they are a good side but we remain determined to get maximum points,” said Kaindu who joined Highlanders in 2012, managing just a single goal on four encounters against their Bulawayo neighbours.
He said attacking football brings fans to the stadium. The Zambian heads for his graduation ceremony in the United Kingdom soon after the match today.
Kaindu must be worried about his former player Bhekimpilo Ncube who has played in all four of the Chicken Inn matches and he would certainly want to prove to the Highlanders technical bench that they were wrong to let him go.
Bosso are expected to play the same team that did duty against Hwange, with probably a few positional changes that are likely to see either Milton Ncube or Charles Sibanda playing just behind the strikers.
Highlanders have the potential to win and what they need is just to play as a team and obviously the 12th player, the supporters, will be fully behind them.
On Sunday Kaindu acknowledged that supporters play a pivotal role.
“We need them all the time especially if the boys are down it is them who can lift their spirits and we call upon them to do that,” said Kaindu.
At the Colliery, Hwange, still buoyant after holding Highlanders at Barbourfields Stadium to a 1-1 draw, play host to Black Rhinos, a match that coach Nation Dube said will be more difficult than the Bosso one.
“I don’t need to motivate my players when playing against teams like Highlanders, the guys are motivated on their own but it is matches like these that we coaches need to work extra hard to condition our players especially coming soon after playing Highlanders,” said Dube.
He added; “It’s not going to be an easy match but we are prepared and ready.”
The coalminers will feel hard done by the Premier Soccer League to fixture them on Thursday and Saturday, giving them just a day to rest before taking to the road to face How Mine, who played yesterday in Chiredzi.
“We have no option because the fixture is already out, but it’s going to be a tall order for the boys and they have no time to rest,” said Dube.
All the other teams that play today will be back on the field on Sunday, save for Chipangano who will undertake another 335km journey inside six days to Bulawayo.
Black Rhinos will face Chicken Inn at Rimuka Stadium on Sunday, Caps United are in Bulawayo on Sunday, Triangle are home to ZPC (Kariba), Chapungu will remain home against Shabanie Mine while the Glamour Boys entertain Buffaloes at the National Sports Stadium. Hwange will just have a day’s rest.
The match will be a double header, with the Bantu Rovers and Chiredzi match starting at 1PM before the miners take to the field. Both matches will be beamed live on SuperSport 9, perhaps the reason for Hwange’s agony.
Fixtures:
Today:
Chicken Inn v Highlanders (Barbourfields), Hwange v Black Rhinos (Colliery), Chapungu v Dynamos (Ascot), Caps United v Triangle (National Sports Stadium).
Week Six:
Saturday, May 3: Bantu Rovers v Chiredzi (Luveve, 1PM SS), How Mine v Hwange (Luveve, 3PM), FC Platinum v Harare City (Mandava).
Sunday, May 4: Chapungu v Shabanie Mine (Ascot), Black Rhinos v Chicken Inn (Rimuka), Dynamos v Buffaloes (National Sports Stadium), Highlanders v Caps United (Barbourfields, 3PM SS), Triangle v ZPC Kariba (Gibbo).
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