Online Reporter
Eddie Chikamhi
Zimpapers Sports Hub
CHICKEN INN coach Tonderai Ndiraya is giving youth a bigger role in his rebuilding plans for next season after senior players failed to deliver, with teenagers Garikai Chibika, 18, and Claude Macharaga, 16, starting Sunday’s 1-0 victory over Dynamos.
Joseph Thulani’s stunning 40-metre strike ended Dynamos’ 15-match unbeaten league run, while the selection of the two teenagers provided the clearest sign yet of Ndiraya’s plans for next season.
“I mean, if the senior guys and the experienced guys could not give us what we really wanted as a team, why not play the youngsters?” said Ndiraya.
Chicken Inn narrowly avoided relegation last season and made another slow start this year, prompting the technical team to change direction.
The club released some ageing players during the mid-season transfer window and brought in younger talent.
The rebuild has also included Cameroonian Dangmo Hapmo, Namibians Tryese Hikupembe and Alex Mumbango, and Congolese pair Gracia Mpongo Mbombo and Kankonde Tshisungu.
The changes have been reflected in their results. Chicken Inn collected 20 points from their opening 17 league matches, winning five, drawing five and losing seven.
They have taken 17 points from their next 10 matches, already matching their first-half tally of five victories.
“It’s better to have youngsters who can make mistakes, youngsters who are still eager to learn, than just keeping experienced guys who would not give you anything,” said Ndiraya.
“I’m sure they have also gotten to a stage where they are now pushing the senior guys to do well. They are playing 90 minutes, like Junior Garikai, with the experienced players on the bench.
“I also have a bias towards young players. I didn’t think twice about throwing them into the deep end.”
Chicken Inn have been eliminated from both domestic cup competitions and are out of the Premiership title race, leaving Ndiraya to build towards next season and the club’s first major silverware since their 2015 league triumph.
“To think that we had an 18-year-old Junior Garikai starting the past four games and giving a very commanding show in midfield tells you the potential this team has.
“Then we started a 16-year-old against Dynamos, Macharaga. The message really is that we are now building for next season,” said Ndiraya.
