Sports / Local
Matawu gives Chicken Inn boost
23 Feb 2016 at 05:11hrs | Views
CHICKEN Inn's preparations for the second leg of the Caf Champions League preliminary round clash against Mamelodi Sundowns have been boosted by the return to full fitness of veteran midfielder Clemence Matawu. Chicken Inn leave Bulawayo for Pretoria, South Africa tomorrow afternoon for the return leg to be played at the Lucas Masterpieces Moripe Stadium on Saturday night.
The "Naughty Flea" as Matawu is affectionately known, missed the first leg at Barbourfields Stadium last week as coach Joey Antipas felt he was not fit enough for the gruelling encounter since he had just returned from injury.
A calf strain also saw the midfielder missing Chicken Inn's pre-season training. The Gamecocks beat Sundowns 1-0, with Mitchelle Katsvairo grabbing the solitary goal, and they will be hoping that Matawu's return enhances their chances of progressing to the next round.
Matawu was vital in Chicken Inn's championship win in 2015 and is among the Castle Lager Premier Soccer League Soccer Stars of the Year. The former Warriors' player, who once had a stint in Poland, played in Chicken Inn's friendly against Harare City at Barbourfields Stadium on Saturday and showed hunger for first team football.
The Gamecocks beat Harare City 2-0 through striker Moses Demera and central midfielder Brian Juru's goals. Harare are the country's Caf Confederation Cup representatives. Antipas said the chances of Matawu making the trip to Pretoria are high.
"Our preparations are going on well and everyone is fighting to be in the travelling squad. The good thing is that Matawu is back. He played a full game against Harare City and I think he will give us another dimension going into the second leg. His chances of travelling for the return leg are bright because we need all the experience we can get as we go for the crunch tie," said Antipas.
Matawu can play either as a winger or central midfielder just behind the strikers. In the first leg against Sundowns, Chicken Inn used captain Danny "Deco" Phiri as a defensive linkman with Tafadzwa Kutinyu playing just in front of his skipper, while Obidiah Tarumbwa covered the space behind lone striker Katsvairo. George Majika and Edmore Chirambadare completed the midfield quintet.
Other midfielders competing for a place in the team include Juru, Madhazi, Bhekimpilo Ncube and young Nicholas Muchadeyi. Antipas is unlikely to make any changes to his defence that was watertight against the expensively assembled Sundowns team.
The Gamecocks used Lawrence Mhlanga and Moses Jackson as twin centre-backs, while Passmore Bernard and Devine Lunga played as wing-backs. Antipas will name his final 18 travelling players for the Sundowns game this evening.
The "Naughty Flea" as Matawu is affectionately known, missed the first leg at Barbourfields Stadium last week as coach Joey Antipas felt he was not fit enough for the gruelling encounter since he had just returned from injury.
A calf strain also saw the midfielder missing Chicken Inn's pre-season training. The Gamecocks beat Sundowns 1-0, with Mitchelle Katsvairo grabbing the solitary goal, and they will be hoping that Matawu's return enhances their chances of progressing to the next round.
Matawu was vital in Chicken Inn's championship win in 2015 and is among the Castle Lager Premier Soccer League Soccer Stars of the Year. The former Warriors' player, who once had a stint in Poland, played in Chicken Inn's friendly against Harare City at Barbourfields Stadium on Saturday and showed hunger for first team football.
"Our preparations are going on well and everyone is fighting to be in the travelling squad. The good thing is that Matawu is back. He played a full game against Harare City and I think he will give us another dimension going into the second leg. His chances of travelling for the return leg are bright because we need all the experience we can get as we go for the crunch tie," said Antipas.
Matawu can play either as a winger or central midfielder just behind the strikers. In the first leg against Sundowns, Chicken Inn used captain Danny "Deco" Phiri as a defensive linkman with Tafadzwa Kutinyu playing just in front of his skipper, while Obidiah Tarumbwa covered the space behind lone striker Katsvairo. George Majika and Edmore Chirambadare completed the midfield quintet.
Other midfielders competing for a place in the team include Juru, Madhazi, Bhekimpilo Ncube and young Nicholas Muchadeyi. Antipas is unlikely to make any changes to his defence that was watertight against the expensively assembled Sundowns team.
The Gamecocks used Lawrence Mhlanga and Moses Jackson as twin centre-backs, while Passmore Bernard and Devine Lunga played as wing-backs. Antipas will name his final 18 travelling players for the Sundowns game this evening.
Source - chronicle
