Mafero’s incredibly fine-run!

Simba Dube
It is almost two years since Joey “Mafero” Antipas was confirmed as the new head coach of Chicken Inn after taking over from the then Gamecocks gaffer Mandla “Lulu” Mpofu.
Although Antipas already had a championship accolade under his belt, taking charge of a side that comes from a Highlanders dominated domain promised not to be friendly, but it was his job to change that.

In 2010 Mafero won his maiden league championship with an ambitious Motor Action and a year later also as the man in charge of the Mighty Bulls, he clinched the BancABC Sup8r Cup in 2011 after defeating Highlanders 1-0 at Barbourfields Stadium.

To the Gamecocks family, having on board a gaffer who had achieved a milestone as well as someone who can navigate the podium of success was something that recharged and glided their hopes high. But on the other side of the coin, these high expectations left the coach with a huge task on his hands.

Clearly, he had a lot to live up to!
As we recall, Chicken Inn was built into a competitive outfit by the late Adam Ndlovu in 2012, currently every football enthusiastic would concur that the profound changes made by Mafero have helped the club to the pinnacle of the country’s topflight league.

In his first season campaign on the Gamecocks bench, the standard of play displayed by his side seemed to be below par, appearing as if his move to Bulawayo was to hit a brick wall.

Of course, the few Chicken Inn fans were already calling for his ouster, but the powers that be must have taken solace in the adage “patience pays.”

Well, the patience seems to be paying off as the team is currently the runaway leader of the Castle Lager Premier Soccer League. The once “hard-to-please” fans have been set abuzz with excitement as they sense a possibility of rewriting history.

Obviously, with a four point-lead they now have an upper hand of crossing first the marathon line — especially if they manage to extinguish the threat posed by Dynamos when they clash in their second game of the season.

In this stance, Antipas believes that hard work and fulltime commitment to the cause has been his success mantra.
“We have been fighting hard as a team from the very first match of the season. The position we are currently on, is all because of hard work, dedication and fulltime focus. Personally I love football and I believe in getting down for it and making sure that the work is done,” said Antipas.

As opponents after opponents have tasted defeat, it is crystal clear that Mafero has installed a winning mentality in the club as they are inching close to landing the biggest prize on the domestic football scene.

Numbers tell their own story and usually they do not lie. Despite the unforeseen defeat to Hwange, in the previous five games the team has pocketed maximum points than any other side in the domestic league. When considering such statistics, one will instantly conclude that no team has been or rather is better than the Gamecocks in this year’s version of the league.

A lot can be said about the team’s brilliance but the answerable fact is that the coach would have made those heavenly flashes possible.

Rising from the ranks Mafero’s men have prevailed, defying the odds and not allowing their winning streak to be spoiled by much more famous teams, better supported teams like Dynamos and Highlanders. In fact, earlier on this season they had Dynamos on their menu as they crashed the Glamour Boys 3-0 and also marched past Highlanders twice at Barbourfields Stadium.

Winning the Championship will probably be the biggest highlight of the team’s transition therefore making the gaffer one of the few coaches to win the championship with two different teams in the domestic league.

It will be bliss for a team like Dynamos to win the league — but for the Gamecocks family who have suddenly forgotten the humdrum routine of defeat, winning the league will be heaven for them.

Arguably, their top hit man Edmore Chirambadare has been the key to the Gamecocks’ good fortune, however we cannot talk of a single player’s brilliance without the ingenuity of the man on the driving seat.

As reflected in the global football trends, most fans throw their allegiances to the power clubs, however, the Gamecocks have also managed to increase a number screeches from their side of the terraces- thanks to their fine run in the league.

Mafero’s unparalleled success must be coming from a thought process which is unknown. Is it to outscore, to outhit or out-think the opponent?

Only he knows!