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Ricky Zililo Senior Sports Reporter
CHAMPIONS Chicken Inn could make a giant leap on the Castle Lager Premier Soccer League table from 10th to sixth if they beat Hwange at the Colliery Stadium this afternoon. A win could be a morale booster for the Gamecocks, who take on table toppers Highlanders in a potentially explosive tie at Barbourfields Stadium on Sunday. Victory in the two games would certainly revive the champions’ title defence aspirations.

Chicken Inn must expect a tough game in the coal mining town as Hwange would be out to recover from a shock 0-1 loss to new boys Mutare City Rovers last Sunday. Hwange coach Mebelo Njekwa said his charges need to rise from last Sunday’s embarrassing defeat and give Chicken Inn a good run.

“In terms of mentality, we’ve to be strong. It’s not easy to succumb and make a quick comeback, which means we really have to be at our best to beat Chicken Inn. We also have to be cautious in our approach because, if you look at it, we dropped from heroes to villains within a short space of time,” said Njekwa.

“Before losing to Mutare City, we beat Triangle United away and to lose to lowly placed Mutare City hit us big time. That’s why I’m saying we need to get something out of the Chicken Inn game,” he said.

Njekwa has demanded that his players win the match in honour of ex-Hwange right-winger David “Dididi” Khumalo, who died on Saturday and was buried in the coal mining town yesterday.

“Dididi was one veteran that always watched our games and had keen interest in what was going on at the club. He would even visit us at our training sessions and there’s no better way to give him a befitting send-off than winning this game for him,” said Njekwa.

Hwange will not have it easy against the champions, whose confidence is high following last weekend’s 1-0 win over Tsholotsho FC. Chicken Inn showed great character in that game, as they played for more than 75 minutes with 10 men.

Central defender Lawrence Mhlanga was shown a red card for an off the ball incident and will miss the trip to Hwange. Mhlanga’s unavailability means Teenage Hadebe will partner Moses Jackson in central defence, with Passmore Bernard and Devine Lunga starting as wingbacks.

Chicken Inn are likely to travel without captain Danny Phiri, who is nursing a slight muscle injury and is also preparing to leave the country for South Africa where he is expected to join Golden Arrows.

With Phiri, who usually controls the midfield out, some of Chicken Inn’s players expected to pull the strings for the champions in Hwange are Tafadzwa Kutinyu, Clemence Matawu, George Majika, Thabani Goredema and Brian Juru. Obidiah Tarumbwa, scorer of the solitary goal against Tsholotsho, and Moses Demera are expected to lead their attack.

However, Chicken Inn have to watch out for veteran striker Gilbert Zulu, Pritchard Mphelele, Newman Sianchali and Munyaradzi Mungadze. Hwange also have veterans Obert Moyo and Andrew Chuma, former Chicken Inn right-back Tonisani Sibelo and Innocent Muchenekwa to bank on for positive results.