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Ricky Zililo Senior Sports Reporter
DEFENDING champions Chicken Inn will have to overcome fatigue and concentrate on getting maximum points against fired-up Caps United who they face this afternoon in a Castle Lager Premier Soccer League match at Luveve Stadium.

Chicken Inn face the title hopefuls having only had a light training sessionyesterday following their road trip to Manicaland where they beat Mutare City Rovers 1-3 on Sunday, ending their four match winless streak.

The Gamecocks returned to Bulawayo on Monday, with coach Rahman Gumbo giving his charges time off so that they could recover in time for the grueling Africa Day encounter against Caps United.

Luveve Stadium hasn’t been a good hunting ground for the champions this year as they are yet to register a victory in three outings.

The best result that they got at Luveve was a 0-0 draw against How Mine which was followed by two losses to Bulawayo City and Triangle United. City beat Chicken Inn 1-0 while triangle emerged 2-1 victors.

Gumbo is looking forward to a tough game, eager to win his second game and lead Chicken inn to their first victory at Luveve.

“I believe we’ve opened a new chapter and we want to continue on that path. Those three consecutive defeats and a draw are now water under the bridge and we’re looking forward to the challenge that lies ahead. Playing Caps United will be an interesting game. We don’t have any injury concerns but the minor worry is fatigue, which we have to overcome since we only arrived on Monday morning from Mutare,” Gumbo said.

Chicken Inn’s quartet of defenders Lawrence Mhlanga and Teenage Hadebe as well as midfielders Danny Phiri and Tafadzwa Kutinyu who are part of the Warriors’ Afcon squad are expected to play key roles in inspiring the Gamecocks today.

Kutinyu was on target in Mutare with the other goals coming from George Majika and 2015 Soccer Star of the Year finalist Edmore Chirambadare.

Some of the players expected to drive Chicken Inn this afternoon include strikers Obidiah Tarumbwa and Mitchelle Katsvairo, who were named for the Warriors’ Cosafa squad with Phiri, Mhlanga and Hadebe.

Bustling forward Moses Demera, Majika, veteran midfielder Clemence Matawu, right back Passmore Bernard, left back Devine Lunga and goalkeeper Elvis Chipezeze will probably start for Chicken Inn.

Gumbo expects his players to have a similar approach to the one they had against Mutare City.

“Last week I spoke about the need to regain our confidence and have a positive attitude and the boys gave me that. It’s only when we’ve positive approach that we can get the results we desire,” said Gumbo.

Caps United on the other hand have been hit by injuries with reports that Hardlife Zvirekwi who plays as a right sided midfielder at club level and right back in the Warriors is doubtful for the trip to Bulawayo as he is nursing an ankle injury.

Midfielders Archford Gutu and Tafadzwa Rusike are also nursing injuries.

The Green Machine, coached by Lloyd Chitembwe who played under Gumbo at Caps United have a strong squad which includes former national team captain Method Mwanjali, midfielder Joel Ngodzo, veteran forward Leonard Tsipa and his striking partner Dominic Chungwa.

They also have quality defenders in Justice Jangano, Stephen Makatuka, Ronald Pfumbidzayi and Dennis Dauda.

 

Week Eight Fixtures

Today: Bulawayo City v Ngezi Platinum Stars (Barbourfields), ZPC Kariba v Hwange (Nyamhunga), Border Strikers v Tsholotsho FC (Maglas), Chicken Inn v Caps United (Luveve), Triangle United v Mutare City Rovers (Gibbo)

Tomorrow: How Mine v FC Platinum (Luveve)

Friday: Harare City v Chapungu (Rufaro, SuperSport, 3PM)

Saturday: Dynamos v Highlanders (Rufaro, SuperSport, 3PM