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Ricky Zililo Senior Sports Reporter
CASTLE Lager Premier Soccer League champions Chicken Inn will return to the top of the table if they beat ZPC Kariba at Nyamhunga Stadium tomorrow.

Chicken Inn are third on the league table with seven points, two behind table-toppers FC Platinum, who are tied on nine points with Caps United.

FC Platinum play their match on Monday against Ngezi Platinum, while Caps United battle it out with rivals Dynamos in a Harare derby on Sunday.

Chicken Inn captain Danny Phiri, whose side played a goalless draw against How Mine last weekend, is wary of ZPC Kariba, who were held 1-1 by Bulawayo City last Saturday.

Phiri said their aim is to get maximum points in Kariba to keep their title defence hopes alive.

“Being defending champions makes you a target of every team and we know that every club we play against raises their game and we’re ready for that. We’ve to stick to our game plan and be tactically and mentally prepared for every game. ZPC Kariba are a good side, with a good coach Sunday Chidzambwa, but we’re going there with only one thing on our minds – a victory,” said Phiri.

Chicken Inn beat ZPC Kariba 2-1 in their last meeting in November in Bulawayo.

“History doesn’t matter. We got four out of seven points from them last year, but they’ve changed and bolstered their side. It’s going to be a difficult, but exciting game that we’re all looking forward to,” he said.

Striker Obidiah Tarumbwa, who scored a brace in a 3-0 drubbing of former champions Dynamos in the opening game of their 2016 campaign, is expected to lead the Gamecocks’ attack with Edmore Chirambadare and Mitchelle Katsvairo in Kariba.

Phiri, Tafadzwa Kutinyu and veteran Clemence Matawu will form the midfield nucleus, with Moses Jackson expected to marshal the defence alongside Lawrence Mhlanga, Devine Lunga and Passmore Bernard.

In other matches, Tsholotsho travel to Gweru tomorrow for a date with Chapungu at Ascot Stadium, while Harare City will be out to get the better of Hwange and probably save under-fire coach Taurai Mangwiro from the axe.

Border Strikers are expected to resolve the players’ outstanding wages issue today ahead of their game against fellow newcomers Mutare City Rovers. The Beitbridge-based side failed to resolve the matter yesterday as club chairman Combat Moyo was said to be out of the country.

Border Strikers players have threatened not to fulfil the game against Mutare City if they are not paid their February, March and April wages and allowances today.

Fixtures

Tomorrow: Harare City v Hwange (Rufaro, SuperSport, 3PM), Chapungu v Tsholotsho FC (Ascot), How Mine v Triangle United (Luveve), ZPC Kariba v Chicken Inn (Nyamhunga)

Sunday: Border Strikers v Mutare City (TBA), Bulawayo City v Highlanders (Barbourfields), Dynamos v Caps United (Rufaro, SuperSport, 3PM)

Monday: Ngezi Platinum v FC Platinum (Baobab, SuperSport, 1PM)