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Innocent Kurira, Sports Writer

FOLLOWING a disappointing Chibuku Super Cup elimination last Saturday by Black Rhinos, Chicken Inn FC coach Prince Matore says that it is all now water under the bridge.

Their focus is climbing up the Castle Lager Premier Soccer League table.

The GameCocks were beaten by Black Rhinos after a 2-1 defeat at Luveve Stadium.

Matore could not hide his frustration and disappointment after that game.

However, with their next challenge being a league game just three days after the cup defeat, the coach is confident his side will not have their heads down when they face Herentals at the National Sports Stadium this afternoon.

“It’s a tough game. If you look at the table, we are only separated by a single point. That on its own shows we are not far from each other if we are to look at our performances this season. For us, it was a disappointing weekend and we would want to make amends by winning over Herentals.

“The situation is more difficult when you consider Herentals were also booted out of Chibuku at the weekend. Both teams will be hoping to get maximum points hence it’s not going to be easy,” said Matore.

Chicken Inn are on position six on the table having collected 38 points from 24 games. Their opponents this afternoon, Herentals, are a point behind them, on 37 points from the same number of games.

The GameCocks have only won once in their last five league games.

Their only victory in those five came over Highlanders while the rest were stalemates. The Students will go into today’s tie at the back of a two nil loss at the hands of FC Platinum last time out in the league.

The GameCocks who declared their desire to win the league this year have been inconsistent with their results all season.

They have not been helped by injuries to key players in the course of the programme.

The likes of George Majika, Brian Muza, Richard Hachiro and Michael Charamba have been in and out of the team due to various knocks.

For the league clash today, Chicken Inn will welcome back the duo of Ndlovu and goalkeeper Donovan Bernard who were away on national team duty in Botswana.

Herentals will also be boosted by the return of Tinotenda Benza and Davison Marowa who also missed out on the Chibuku Super Cup quarter-finals owing to national duty.
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