Tostao rallies behind Antipas

Lawrence Moyo

CHICKEN INN assistant coach, Fungai “Tostao” Kwashi believes his boss, Joey “Mafero” Antipas deserves respect.

Antipas was reportedly given a three-match ultimatum following Chicken Inn’s poor start to the season

The former Castle Lager Premier Soccer League champions managed just four points from their opening five matches, four draws and a defeat.

They had managed just one goal in the five matches.

Alarmed by the disastrous start, Chicken Inn are said to have given Antipas the last chance to justify his continued stay at the modest Bulawayo club.

The three-match ultimatum covers matches against Dynamos away, Simba Bhora at home and Manica Diamonds away − all of them very tough matches between Week 6 and 8 this month.

However, Antipas started the spell with a 1-0 win over Dynamos at Rufaro on Sunday and Tostao was on hand to speak for the club in the post-match presser.

He reminded the journalists that Antipas is a very good coach whose profile includes having the best win ratio as Warriors coach.

“It is by the grace of God that we got these points. Also, Joey Antipas is one of the best coaches in world football. Why I am saying that is if you go to the statistics, you will see that Joey Antipas when he was the national team coach, he has the best winning rate.

“A great man, hardworking man with so much love.”

The unsolicited comment from Tostao underlined the pressure within the Chicken Inn technical staff and the sympathy the backroom staff has for championship-winning Antipas.

Looking at the result, Tostao went biblical to try and explain the winless run they had in the first five matches of the season.

“Then the team, fantastic performance. Not that they have not been giving the best, they have been giving their best, but we have not been fortunate with results. It’s part of football, sometimes you go through these phases.

“Even in the bible, remember Job? He went through a time whereby his kids were killed; his animals were taken but God gave him all these things. We have been going through a rough patch, not winning games but I want to thank the Chicken Inn executive, Mr Lifa, Mr Tshuma, everyone who works for Simbisa for the support they have been giving us behind the scenes.

“Chicken Inn is family; everyone fights for each other…”

It was clear from the comments that there had been immense pressure on the Chicken Inn technical team and Tostao confirmed what had become obvious courtesy of his opening remarks.

“To be honest with you there was so much pressure I don’t want to lie to you. I’ve been a player, now I am a coach. It’s not easy trying to teach someone to do some things you used to do as a player, but you just have to keep doing it.

“People are talking about crisis of goals in Zimbabwe. It’s not only in Zimbabwe but whole of Africa. If you look at Zambia, South Africa, the top goal scorers are now scoring 15 goals, 14 goals. It’s a crisis and it is our job as coaches to keep on working hard and not give up on the current generation of players and give solutions.”