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Ricky Zililo Senior Sports Reporter
A victory against Tsholotsho FC this afternoon will be a perfect send-off gift for defending champions Chicken Inn’s duo of Edmore Chirambadare and Mitchelle Katsvairo who are expected to join Kaizer Chiefs next week.

Chirambadare and Katsvairo are expected to link-up with their Chiefs teammates for off-season training on Monday but are likely to watch the Tsholotsho-Chicken Inn Castle Lager Premier Soccer League encounter from the terraces at White City Stadium.

“Something is coming up and if you get hold of me in a day or two I’ll be able to tell you more about the progress made on Chirambadare and Katsvairo’s deal,” said Gibson Mahachi, the two players’ agent.

Chirambadare and Katsvairo’s last game for Chicken Inn was on May 25 when they lost 1-2 to Caps United at Luveve Stadium, a match in which the former scored the face-saver for the Gamecocks.

After that encounter, the league took a break and when it resumed a fortnight ago Chicken Inn continued on time off as they had five players with the national team which took part at the Cosafa Castle Cup in Namibia.

Defenders Teenage Hadebe and Lawrence Mhlanga, midfielder Danny Phiri and Tafadzwa Kutinyu as well as striker Obidiah Tarumbwa are the Chicken Inn players who were with the Warriors in Namibia.

Today Chicken Inn faces a Tsholotsho side that shrugged off dust and is more match fit than their opponents having played two matches after the break.

In their last two matches, Tsholotsho, who are third from the bottom, drew 1-1 with How Mine and lost 0-1 away to ZPC Kariba.

Chicken Inn’s coach Rahman Gumbo has seen positives in the month-long break, saying it gave his players time to adjust to his philosophy having been in charge of two games after taking over from Joey Antipas who is now coaching Durban side Amazulu.

In his two games in charge, Gumbo beat Mutare City Rovers 3-1 at Sakubva and lost 1-2 to Caps United at home.

He is hoping to lead his side to maximum points against Tsholotsho.

“The break had its positives in the sense that it enabled the guys to understand the philosophy and now we’re looking forward to our matches,” Gumbo said.

Hadebe and Mhlanga are expected to partner in central defence this afternoon with Passmore Bernard and Devine Lunga completing the backline.

Phiri, Kutinyu, Clemence Matawu and George Majika will form the midfield quartet while Tarumbwa and Moses Demera will lead their attack.

Tsholotsho’s hopes will be pinned on captain William Stima who will lead from the back, partnering Thandolwenkosi Ncube at central defence while MacClive Phiri and Nkosilathi Moyo will play as wingbacks.

Tsholotsho’s midfield unit is likely to be made up of defensive midfielder Butholezwe Ncube, Ocient Ncube, Kriess Chitiyo, Simbarashe Gorogodyo and veteran Joel Luphahla.

Former Njube Sundowns forward Dylan Chivandire is likely to play as a lone striker, getting support from Luphahla and Gorogodyo when attacking.

Other attacking options for Tsholotsho are Mustafa Ponyera, Nicholas Mundandishe and Nixon Gama.

Fixtures

Today: Ngezi Platinum v Border Strikers (Baobab), Harare City v Dynamos (Rufaro), Tsholotsho FC v Chicken Inn (White City), FC Platinum v Triangle United (Mandava, 3PM, SuperSport)

Tomorrow: Caps United v Bulawayo City (National Sports Stadium), Highlanders v ZPC Kariba (Barbourfields, 3PM, SuperSport), Hwange v Mutare City Rovers (Colliery)

Wednesday, June 29: Hwange v Chicken Inn (Colliery)

P W D L F A GD Pts

Highlanders 10 7 2 1 19 6 13 23

Caps United 10 6 3 1 15 7 8 21

ZPC Kariba 10 6 3 1 14 8 6 21

FC Platinum 9 6 2 1 11 4 7 20

Triangle United 10 4 4 2 10 8 2 16

Harare City 10 4 3 3 14 8 6 15

Bulawayo City 10 3 5 2 9 9 0 14

Dynamos 10 4 2 4 7 9 -2 14

How Mine 10 3 4 3 9 9 0 13

Hwange 10 4 1 4 7 10 -3 13

Chicken Inn 8 3 1 4 9 7 2 10

Chapungu 10 2 4 4 8 11 -3 10

Ngezi Platinum 10 2 2 6 9 14 -5 8

Tsholotsho 10 2 2 6 6 11 -5 8

Mutare City 10 2 0 8 6 20 -14 6

Border Strikers 10 1 0 9 2 14 -12 3