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Sikhumbuzo Moyo Senior Sports Reporter
CASTLE Lager Premier Soccer League champions Chicken Inn’s participation in the 20th edition of the Caf Champions League championship hangs in the balance as the club leadership said yesterday that they are unlikely to take part citing prohibitive costs. Chicken Inn, who clinched the title with a game to spare following their 3-1 win over Harare City at Luveve Stadium last Saturday, are bankrolled by conglomerate Innscor Africa.

“Nothing final yet but indications are that we are unlikely to participate in the safari although we are still weighing our options,” said Chicken Inn chairman Lifa Ncube yesterday. He said the club had to make a decision to either put resources to retaining the title next year or participate in the Caf Champions League.

Ncube said the club did not want to blindly decide to participate in the Caf Champions League like what other teams did in the past without assessing the costs to the team.

“We don’t want to strain ourselves which will in turn affect us in our bid to defend the league title. I’m certain that by Friday we would have come up with a clear position so that we give authorities time to probably find a replacement,” said Ncube whose executive must be hailed for standing by coach Joe Antipas especially last season when things weren’t looking all that rosy.

The deadline for confirmation of participation in both the Champions League and the Confederations Cup is November 30.

If Chicken Inn stand by their decision not to participate, cash rich FC Platinum, who are likely to finish as runners up to the Bulawayo side, could be the Zimbabwean representatives in the race to become kings of African club football. If they decide to, the Norman Mapeza coached side will be venturing into the African jungles for the third time inside four years, having first participated in the Caf Champions League in 2012 after coming second to Dynamos while this year they competed in the less glamorous Confederations Cup after winning the Chibuku Super Cup last year.

FC Platinum spokesperson Chido Chizondo said this week that they would gladly take the offer to represent the country but would only make that confirmation after their last match of the season on Saturday as they are not yet guaranteed a second spot finish.