Will Mafero’s lucky charm take him home?

Bruce Chikuni

CHICKEN Inn boss, Joey “Mafero” Antipas, has won the Castle Lager Premiership each time he goes to the mid-season break, at the summit of the standings.

It remains to be seen if the lucky charm is still with him.

The Gamecocks handed Triangle their first home defeat of the season, at the weekend, to cement their top spot.

Antipas’s troops are going to the recess with a point cushion, having amassed 35 points, in 17 fixtures.

Dynamos are in second place with 34 points, while defending champions, FC Platinum,complete the top three, just four points off the pace.

Chicken Inn have been enjoying the front row seat for the larger part of the campaign.

Antipas, who won the league with the Gamecocks in 2015, and the defunct Motor Action in 2010, seems to be on the right path to claim his third silverware, should his troops continue with their fine form.

Speaking to H-Metro, he highlighted the significance of improving their home record in the second half of the season.

“It was a very important win going into the mid-season break, winning at Gibbo says it all,” said Antipas.

“It was a tight game, we took the game to them and we deserved to win after dominating the better part of the game.

“We have performed admirably well, we seem to have the knack of winning big games away from home but we need to improve and be more consistent at home.

“We can go a long way.”

The club’s goal-minder, Donovan Bernard, has so far kept 10 clean sheets which put him level with Dynamos’s Taimon Mvula.

Antipas, singled out his defence for special praise.

“I will give credit to our defence and goalie for being resilient,” he said.

“Defensively,  we have been sound of late, so we have got to keep fighting and keep our never-say-die-spirit.

“To win, you have to perform at a consistent level and never give up, our competitiveness is up there, we need to be united and fight as a unit, which we have shown in the first half of the season, you have to withstand all the pressure.

“Football is based on the good breaks you make in your games and luck plays a big part.

“Yes, we can not talk about what has happened in the past regarding the history of going for the break being at the top, it’s not going to be easy that’s what I can say.”