Poor travellers’ tag worries Antipas

Sikhumbuzo Moyo Senior Sports Reporter
CHICKEN Inn travel to Zvishavane hoping to put aside their poor travellers’ tag as they take on FC Platinum at Mandava Stadium this afternoon. The Game Cocks’ away record last year was nothing to cheer about, having won just three out of Bulawayo matches, beating Black Rhinos, Hwange and Chiredzi. Two of the teams they managed to beat last year, Black Rhinos and Chiredzi, have since been relegated. This year, they have already lost to Harare City in the capital.

Head coach Joey Antipas, who has collected nine points from three matches at Luveve Stadium is aware of the not so impressive statistic and he wants it changed, beginning this afternoon.

“There is a need for us to stop that (losing away), we need to be composed and avoid giving away soft balls that eventually cost us the match,” said Antipas who has fused youth with experience in his squad.

He said their preparations have gone on well and has no injury worries with the only missing player being Lawrence Mhlanga who travelled with the Zimbabwe Under-23 national side for a crucial African Games qualifier against Cameroon in Yaoundé tomorrow.

Chicken Inn come up against a side that has just bowed out of the Caf Confederation Cup and naturally eager to do well in the league so as to have another dance in the African jungles.

Kugona Kunenge Kudada, who marked their entry into mainstream Zimbabwean football by splashing cash like confetti at a wedding, are a stubborn side at home and with their first win on Wednesday against Flame Lily, their confidence levels are high.

Youngster, Walter Musona is expected to be a handful to the Chicken Inn defence marshalled by Moses Jackson and Passmore Bernard.

Striker, Edmore Chirambadare will carry the hopes of the Bulawayo side upfront as he seeks to add to his three goal tally.

At Ascot Stadium tomorrow, league debutants, Whawha and Tsholotsho will be in battle and Tsholotsho coach Lizwe Sweswe said he was looking forward to a good outing.

“The last minute draw against Hwange gave us some belief that with determination anything is possible but I’ve told my boys not to be complacent by telling themselves that they are meeting a fellow former Division One side,” said Sweswe.

At Luveve Stadium, How Mine will be entertaining ambitious Harare City this afternoon. The gold miners are another team whose chief strikers have not really come to the party, especially considering that they have in their lineup, last season’s joint Golden boot winners Charles Sibanda and Kuda Musharu.

At Gibbo Stadium, Kelvin Kaindu’s Triangle, a completely transformed side, engage troubled Caps United whose future is still very uncertain although their on-field perfomances have been in sharp contrast with the administrative and financial problems they are facing.