We are low on confidence: Antipas

CHICKEN Inn coach, Joey Antipas, says he needs to work on improving his players’ confidence levels ahead of their Castle Lager Premier Soccer League clash with Simba Bhora on Sunday.

His team is winless in their last three league fixtures, having lost once and drawn twice against Dynamos and Bulawayo Chiefs.

Both matches ended nil-all.

Antipas suggests the unfavourable results have resulted in a drop in confidence in the team, which is something they need to work on ahead of the Simba Bhora clash at Luveve Stadium on Sunday.

“Our next game is against Simba Bhora and they won their last game. They will be confident. For us, we just have to try and get confidence in our players back because some of the players are lacking in confidence. It’s important that we get into gear. In some of the games that we have played and got into gear, we have been untouchable. With Danny Phiri coming back this week, l think we will be more solid in midfield. We just have to prepare well for this game if we want to get three points. We have to get our act together because we have fired blanks in our last two games,” said Antipas.

Phiri has been serving a two-game suspension after he was shown a red card in Chicken Inn’s loss to Yadah Stars.

Chicken Inn are in position five on the table with 17 points after 11 matches.

They have managed four wins, five draws and two losses.

Their next opponents, Simba Bhora are third on the table with 20 points, two behind leaders Manica Diamonds.

The GameCocks will not have it easy against Simba Bhora who have a target of winning the league this season.

Simba Bhora were the busiest club on the transfer market and there were a lot of expectations from the Shamva-based side.

Players that joined Simba Bhora this season include the trio of Mthokozisi Msebe, Perfect Chikwende, Walter Musona, Taimon Mvula, Wilson Mensah, Gift Saunyama, Harrison Musina, Malvin Mkolo and Billy Vheremu who joined from Bulawayo Chiefs.

They also added to their squad, former Warriors goalkeeper Talbert Shumba and former Dynamos midfielder Junior Makunike. —@innocentskizoe