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Ricky Zililo Senior Sports Reporter
CASTLE Lager Premier Soccer League champions Chicken Inn are wary of their Caf Champions League opponents Mamelodi Sundowns with coach Joey Antipas describing them as one of the best teams in Southern Africa.

The Gamecocks will face the South African side, who finished second behind Kaizer Chiefs in the 2014-15 season, in the preliminary round of the premier continental club competition that kicks off in February 2016.

Chicken Inn will start their campaign at home on the weekend of February 12 to14 with the return leg set for the weekend of February 26 to 28 in South Africa.

Antipas, whose side lost 1-0 to Highlanders in the Easycall Cup final on Sunday, said they have to start their preparations early to shrug off pre-season rust.

“The draw that we’ve been given is tricky but you never know, we can spring some shockers. Mamelodi Sundowns are one of the best teams in Southern Africa and we expect a tight game against them,” said Antipas.

“As we go for the pre-season, we’ve to plan well and counter the disadvantage that we face. Our disadvantage is that we will be coming from off-season and they will be in the groove since their league is approaching its halfway. However, this is not an excuse and we will have to work extra hard to get the boys in the right state for an early season.”

Should Chicken Inn progress to the next round, they will face Congo’s representatives AC Leopards, who received a preliminary round bye.

The first leg matches of the first round will be played on the weekend of March 11 to13, with the reverse fixtures a week later.

The Gamecocks, who will be beefing up their squad, are likely to start their 2016 preparations on the January 11.

Antipas will be praying not to lose some of his star players to foreign clubs after the African Nations Championship (Chan) tournament set for Rwanda from January 16 to February 7.

Chicken Inn have contributed six players, captain Danny “Deco” Phiri, defender Lawrence Mhlanga, the midfield duo of Raphael Kutinyu and George Majika, goalkeeper Elvis Chipezeze and striker Edmore Chirambadare into the Warriors’ 32-member preliminary squad.

National team coach Callisto Pasuwa will trim the squad to 23 and the Gamecocks’ technical team will be happy if the six make it into the national team squad for the tournament where they will continue with high intensity training as well as getting game time.

Besides the six, Chicken Inn will bank on the experienced Clemence Matawu, Passmore Bernard and rookie national team defender Devine Lunga, who recently recovered from a knee operation and played in the Gamecocks’ last games, including the Easycall Cup final.

Meanwhile, Mamelodi Sundowns coach Pitso Mosimane says although his side are familiar with football in Zimbabwe, they will not underestimate Chicken Inn.

Mosimane is fully aware of the threat the Zimbabweans could pose.

“We certainly don’t take Chicken Inn lightly. Actually, they are a very good side,” Mosimane told his club’s official website.

Sundowns have held a number of pre-season camps in Zimbabwe, and with team manager Peter Ndlovu and attacking midfielder Kudakwashe Mahachi, who is presently on loan at Golden Arrows, familiar with Chicken Inn, Mosimane feels his side know what to expect.

“They are also the side for which Kuda Mahachi played for, and we are quite familiar with the territory. In addition, we have played pre-season matches in Zimbabwe during our pre-season camps,” said Mosimane.

Some of the Zimbabweans at Sundowns include attacking midfielder Khama Billiat, striker Cuthbert Malajila and former national team midfielder Esrom Nyandoro.