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From Fungai Muderere in Pretoria, South Africa
PRIOR to the start of yesterday’s morning training session here at Clampham High School, Chicken Inn gaffer Joey Antipas made a bold statement telling his charges that they should remember that they are not on holiday. The Bulawayo side are here for their Caf Champions League second leg clash against Mamelodi Sundowns tomorrow night.

“We’re here on a mission. We’re not on holiday. We should think professionally. We should watch our bodies as sports guys. There is no need to over feed yourselves. Even the Bible says over eating is a sin.

“We have a job at hand. We’re here on serious business. You need to be focused on the task we have,” said the soft spoken former national team and Motor Action mentor.

Clamphan High School has a number of Mamelodi Sundowns’ Under-12, 14 and 16 players who are enrolled there and the academic institution boasts of two quality pitches with natural turf.

Chicken Inn was happy with the training ground that they were provided with the team emphasising on individual and group pressing.

“Our main thrust was on individual and group pressing. We were trying to get the shape of our defence and midfield. We also worked on counter attacks, trying to play the ball as quick as possible,” said Antipas.

“We also worked out on shooting from outside the box. I saw them (players) hit the target several times which is very good,” he said.

Team captain Danny Phiri, veterans Obadiah Tarumbwa and Clemence Matawu, young Devine Lunga, evergreen Tafadzwa Kutinyu, Moses Jackson, Thabani Goredema, Edmore Chirambadare, Mitchell Katsvairo and towering Lawrence Mhlanga are some of the Gamecocks players that looked sharp.

At 7:30PM yesterday the Gamecocks were set to hold their second training session of the day at Chloorkop Ground, Midrand under flood lights. Antipas said training at Chloorkop was going to give his charges a chance to adjust to the lights by playing some small side games and the main emphasis was still going to be more on organisation.

Chloorkop Ground is Mamelodi Sundowns’ training facility.

The news that Chicken Inn had never played at night has been received with so much joy by Pitso Mosimane, Mamelodi Sundowns coach. Other than the floodlights boost, Sundowns, who played an Absa Premiership clash against Mpumalanga Black Aces on Wednesday night, could be helped by the fact that they have played two matches since the loss to Zimbabwe champions.

The hosts have also maintained that the tie is not over, promising to wrap it up at Lucas Moripe Stadium and proceed to the next round.

“Yes, we lost the match, but the round is not lost. We will have to do the business at home,” Sundowns coach Mosimane vowed after their away loss. The two clubs are today set to hold a joint Press conference at Lucas Moripe Stadium.