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Fungai Muderere, Senior Sports Reporter

FINISHING as first runners up in the just concluded Castle Lager Premier Soccer League 2021/2022 season saw Chicken Inn players and officials miss out on a US$150 000 jackpot that they were set to share had they won the league title.

The Gamecocks, who looked well on course to clinch the 2021/2022 league championship for the greater part of their campaign, ended up as bridesmaids to four-time league winners FC Platinum who accumulated a total of 75 points, 12 ahead of Antipas’ men.

FC Platinum

When Chicken Inn looked on track to land the championships for the second time after seven years, Simbisa Brands managing director Warren Meares told this publication in May that the team was set to share a maximum of US$150 000 come end of the season had they won the championship. 

“I recently talked to coach Antipas and the team and confirmed to them that if they do happen to win the championship, there will be an incentive for them that will be shared by the players and the management. 

“The figure stands between US$130 000 and US$150 000. We are happy to be founders and sponsors of this great club. So far, they have been performing exceptionally well and Antipas has assured us that he will be working on some technical areas so as to continue doing well. We are looking forward to seeing our club bring the trophy back home,” we quoted Meares as saying.

Club president Lifa Ncube also confirmed the offer that was on the table.

However, fast forward to November, it has turned out to be a jackpot chance that has gone sour, a development that pains Antipas.

“We really missed on a big jackpot. It is very painful. I believe it was going to make everyone happy. Unfortunately, we lost out. I wish there could be something for us after finishing second. We lost the league title yes but I still think we did very well,” said Antipas.

Castle Lager Premier Soccer League

He believes his charges’ campaign came off the rails when they fell 3-0 at home to FC Platinum to surrender their impressive lead on the log table to the Zvishavane-based side. They also lost by similar score lines to Dynamos and Tenax CS. 

“We lost the plot midway into the season when we lost to FC Platinum, Tenax CS and Dynamos. That was the turning point. We were also in a transition period introducing young players to replace veteran players. However, I am happy that as the season drew to an end the young players were now standing out to be counted and we also went for eight games without tasting defeat,” said Antipas. 

Arthur Chinda and Vincent Moyo are some of the young players that began to enjoy game time at Chicken Inn midway into the season with the aging veteran duo of Moses Jackson (41) and Guide Goddard (34) playing some cameo roles. — @FungaiMuderere