Sports / Local
Chicken Inn takes on Bosso
11 Dec 2015 at 05:21hrs | Views
CHICKEN Inn have defiantly declared that the centre of power in Zimbabwean football has shifted and they no longer belong in the bracket of small teams.
The Gamecocks said they will establish their declaration by lifting the Easycall Cup in Sunday's mouth-watering final against Bulawayo giants Highlanders at Barbourfields.
Chicken Inn go into Sunday's final oozing with confidence after clinching the tightly contested Castle Lager Premier Soccer League championship ahead of history-seeking former champions Dynamos and are confident of ending 2015 with the league and cup double.
Chicken Inn coach, Joey Antipas indicated that his charges were fired up for the final. "Our preparations have been smooth and the boys are very much relaxed. They want to win this cup and end the year on a high note. They are aware that Chicken Inn is no longer a small team but belongs with the big boys. Winning the league and cup double would certainly send a strong message that the club is going places," said Antipas.
"Going into Sunday's game, I think pressure is on Highlanders who haven't won a major trophy for a while. We're going there to enjoy and win the game. We are really looking forward to a good game," he said. Highlanders last won a major trophy in 2013 when they beat How Mine 3-0 in an all-Bulawayo final of the Mbada Diamonds Cup that was also played at Barbourfields.
The resurgent Bulawayo giants managed a top six league finish after an indifferent start to the season and dumped perennial rivals Dynamos out of the Easycall Cup in last Sunday's semi-final encounter they won 2-1 at Barbourfields.
Prior to the Dynamos meeting, Bosso had dug deep into their reserves to beat FC Platinum 1-0 in the quarter-final of the top eight tournament at Mandava with wonder boy Knox Mutizwa grabbing the 90th minute winner.
Chicken Inn booked a place in the semis by beating ZPC Kariba 4-3 on penalties after a goalless draw at Nyamhunga. They went on to clobber CAPS United 3-0 in a super-charged semi-final that drew the worst out of their opponents' fans, who found the defeat hard to swallow and disrupted play by hurling missiles onto the pitch and even physically attacking goalkeeper Elvis Chipezeze.
The Gamecocks have had a great season driven by great team work. Besides winning the league title, Chicken Inn also produced the 2015 Soccer Star of the Year Danny "Deco" Phiri, Goalkeeper of the Year Chipezeze and Coach of the Year Antipas. Their leading striker Edmore "Spanner" Chirambadare and Clemence "Naughty Flea" Matawu are also among the 11 Soccer Stars of the Year.
Bosso's interim technical advisor Cosmas "Tsano" Zulu admitted that the once feared Bulawayo giants go into the final as underdogs, but believes that the pressure would be on Chicken Inn.
"It's really good that we go into this final with the underdogs' tag because we're facing the champions. They will be under pressure because they won't want to lose to a side that failed to beat them this season," said Zulu. "I say they'll be feeling the pressure because it's them who want a double and we just want to win a cup. So, winning isn't everything, but wanting to win is everything," Zulu said.
The veteran coach spoke of the need for his players to up their game and run throughout the 90 minutes to convert chances that come their way. He also scoffed at criticism that Bosso players tire in the second half of matches, saying laying back and allowing opponents to come at them is part of their strategy.
However, that strategy could prove costly as Chicken Inn have skilful players such as Chirambadare, George Majika, Mitchell Katsvario and Toto Banda, who have the ability to outrun and unlock the most stubborn of defences. Zulu appealed to Highlanders' fans to repeat the constant chanting they displayed against Dynamos in the semi-final.
The Bosso fans were on song from the opening to the last minute, except for intermittent bouts of silence in the second half of the match when the team had "laid back" and Dynamos was coming at them from all angles.
"If we're to give them (fans) an early Christmas present, they've to cheer the team. We want this final to be a memorable occasion for Highlanders. I want to appeal to the fans that we must win honourably and lose honourably. We say no to hooliganism," Zulu said.
The Gamecocks said they will establish their declaration by lifting the Easycall Cup in Sunday's mouth-watering final against Bulawayo giants Highlanders at Barbourfields.
Chicken Inn go into Sunday's final oozing with confidence after clinching the tightly contested Castle Lager Premier Soccer League championship ahead of history-seeking former champions Dynamos and are confident of ending 2015 with the league and cup double.
Chicken Inn coach, Joey Antipas indicated that his charges were fired up for the final. "Our preparations have been smooth and the boys are very much relaxed. They want to win this cup and end the year on a high note. They are aware that Chicken Inn is no longer a small team but belongs with the big boys. Winning the league and cup double would certainly send a strong message that the club is going places," said Antipas.
"Going into Sunday's game, I think pressure is on Highlanders who haven't won a major trophy for a while. We're going there to enjoy and win the game. We are really looking forward to a good game," he said. Highlanders last won a major trophy in 2013 when they beat How Mine 3-0 in an all-Bulawayo final of the Mbada Diamonds Cup that was also played at Barbourfields.
The resurgent Bulawayo giants managed a top six league finish after an indifferent start to the season and dumped perennial rivals Dynamos out of the Easycall Cup in last Sunday's semi-final encounter they won 2-1 at Barbourfields.
Prior to the Dynamos meeting, Bosso had dug deep into their reserves to beat FC Platinum 1-0 in the quarter-final of the top eight tournament at Mandava with wonder boy Knox Mutizwa grabbing the 90th minute winner.
Chicken Inn booked a place in the semis by beating ZPC Kariba 4-3 on penalties after a goalless draw at Nyamhunga. They went on to clobber CAPS United 3-0 in a super-charged semi-final that drew the worst out of their opponents' fans, who found the defeat hard to swallow and disrupted play by hurling missiles onto the pitch and even physically attacking goalkeeper Elvis Chipezeze.
The Gamecocks have had a great season driven by great team work. Besides winning the league title, Chicken Inn also produced the 2015 Soccer Star of the Year Danny "Deco" Phiri, Goalkeeper of the Year Chipezeze and Coach of the Year Antipas. Their leading striker Edmore "Spanner" Chirambadare and Clemence "Naughty Flea" Matawu are also among the 11 Soccer Stars of the Year.
Bosso's interim technical advisor Cosmas "Tsano" Zulu admitted that the once feared Bulawayo giants go into the final as underdogs, but believes that the pressure would be on Chicken Inn.
"It's really good that we go into this final with the underdogs' tag because we're facing the champions. They will be under pressure because they won't want to lose to a side that failed to beat them this season," said Zulu. "I say they'll be feeling the pressure because it's them who want a double and we just want to win a cup. So, winning isn't everything, but wanting to win is everything," Zulu said.
The veteran coach spoke of the need for his players to up their game and run throughout the 90 minutes to convert chances that come their way. He also scoffed at criticism that Bosso players tire in the second half of matches, saying laying back and allowing opponents to come at them is part of their strategy.
However, that strategy could prove costly as Chicken Inn have skilful players such as Chirambadare, George Majika, Mitchell Katsvario and Toto Banda, who have the ability to outrun and unlock the most stubborn of defences. Zulu appealed to Highlanders' fans to repeat the constant chanting they displayed against Dynamos in the semi-final.
The Bosso fans were on song from the opening to the last minute, except for intermittent bouts of silence in the second half of the match when the team had "laid back" and Dynamos was coming at them from all angles.
"If we're to give them (fans) an early Christmas present, they've to cheer the team. We want this final to be a memorable occasion for Highlanders. I want to appeal to the fans that we must win honourably and lose honourably. We say no to hooliganism," Zulu said.
Source - the herald
