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Ricky Zililo in Lusaka, Zambia
CASTLE Lager Premier Soccer League champions Chicken Inn have arrived in Zambia for a four-team invitational tournament that starts in the industrial and commercial centre of the Copperbelt, Ndola tomorrow.

The champions are using the Zambian tour as part of their preparations for the Caf Champions League preliminary round tie against South Africa’s Mamelodi Sundowns on the weekend of February 12-14.

The Gamecocks will play their first match against Zanaco at 1PM tomorrow and will take to the field after just a light training session. The 21-member squad slept in Lusaka last night and are expected to connect to Ndola this morning.

After tomorrow’s game, Chicken Inn’s next encounter is set for Saturday before they wrap up their tour with a tie against Zambian champions Zesco on Wednesday, February 3.

Besides the four national team players that include goalkeeper Elvis Chipezeze, defender Lawrence Mhlanga and strikers Moses Demera and Edmore Chirambadare, who are away on national duty at the ongoing African Nations Championship (Chan) in Rwanda, the Gamecocks left four other payers that they registered for the continental safari at home.

Skipper Danny “Deco” Phiri is recovering from a tendon injury and a calf strain has grounded Clemence Matawu, while defender Teenage Hadebe is nursing a knee injury and striker David Temwanjira is sorting out his passport.

Defenders Moses Jackson and Brian Mbiriri will share the captaincy in Zambia. The other player missing from the travelling party but is registered for the Caf Champions League, is winger Toto Banda, who is reportedly on the verge of joining How Mine.

Their latest acquisitions, strikers Obidiah Tarumbwa and Physwell Madhazi, signed from Bantu Rovers and Dongo Sawmill respectively, are part of the touring party.

Chicken Inn coach Joey Antipas believes the tour of Zambia will give his charges the much needed game time ahead of the crunch tie against Mamelodi Sundowns.

“Obviously I would’ve loved to come with all my players, but due to circumstances beyond our control, we’ve had to take 21,” said Antipas.

“This is all about giving the guys game time and getting combinations right since we’re coming from off season. I’m not worried about the guys with the national team because they’re working hard where they are and when we come back we’ll then rope them in as we polish combinations,” he said.

Antipas will be hoping that his new signings easily gel with his championship winning squad. He also said the tour would give some of his inexperienced players the exposure of playing against foreign opponents.

“I don’t want my boys to be overwhelmed when we play Sundowns in a few weeks and I know that this tournament will afford them an opportunity to settle and get used to foreign opposition. I’m grateful to the executive that saw the wisdom of sending us to Zambia to prepare. We’ll try our best when we face Sundowns,” Antipas said.

Head of delegation Mlungisi Moyo is also hopeful that the Ndola tournament will yield the desired results.

“Chicken Inn is a brand and we’re in football to stay. We don’t want to do things haphazardly hence our decision to give the team all the support as we venture into the African safari. It’s our hope that the technical team’s objectives of getting the boys into the groove will be realised since they’re coming from off-season,” said Moyo.

Chicken Inn travelling squad

Goalkeepers: Pride Zendera, Wandile Ndlovu

Defenders: Moses Jackson, Passmore Bernard, Ben Nyahunzvi, Amos Ncube, Devine Lunga, Brian Mbiriri

Midfielders: Thabani Goredema, Bhekimpilo Ncube, Brian Juru, Tafadzwa Kutinyu, Thabani Goredema, Thulani Nxusani, George Majika, Canaan Nkomo, Nicholas Muchadeyi

Strikers: Ishmael Lawe, Mitchelle Katsvairo, Physwell Madhazi, Obidiah Tarumbwa

Fixtures

Tomorrow: Zanaco v Chicken Inn (1PM), Zesco v Azam (3PM)

Saturday: January 30: Chicken Inn v Azam (1PM), Zesco v Azam (3PM)

Wednesday: February 3: Zesco v Chicken Inn (1PM), Zanaco v Azam (3PM)