Sports / Local
Chicken Inn out to finish off Sundowns
27 Feb 2016 at 12:55hrs | Views
THE Chicken Inn and Mamelodi Sundowns' Caf Champions League preliminary round second leg tie showdown explodes tonight at Lucas Moripe Stadium here in Pretoria with the Gamecocks' CTK effect of Edmore Chirambadare, Obadiah Tarumbwa and hard running Mitchell Katsvairo oozing with confidence.
Kickoff is at 8:15pm.
Despite complaining of a groin injury during their Thursday morning training session that was held at Clamphan High School, Chirambadare, a national team player who possesses silky dribbling skills, has vowed to give out his best against their highly respected opponents.
"We're here on a mission. We're here to finish off Sundowns. Half of the job was done in Zimbabwe and we came here to conclude our mission. I promise to give it all. It's now not about the club but the nation. I know there'll be a lot of pressure but pressure was also there when we met them at Barbourfields Stadium," said Chirambadare who looked sharp at their evening work out that was held at Sundowns' Chloorkop Ground on Thursday.
The Zimbabwean soccer champions made a mockery of pre-match odds in the first leg as they dismissed Pitso Mosimane's men courtesy of a Katsvairo wonder strike in the 34th minute. Evergreen Tarumbwa, a veteran of many football battles who permanently joined the Innscor sponsored outfit early this year, says they are able to fight with their all to defeat Amasandawana tonight.
"We're one foot in (to the next stage). Our best at the end of the day will be managing to repeat that Barbourfields act. We've to make sure that we don't concede and we're not intimidated at all despite the high player profiles at Sundowns. We're going to focus on playing our style," said Tarumbwa.
The Barbourfields hero, Katsvairo, is also a believer.
"Nothing can stop us. We're in control. They chased shadows in Zimbabwe after many had tipped them to beat us. They're a bruised lot and we'll inflict more pain to them as a team. I believe a collective effort will take us to the next round," said the lively attacker whom since the Gamecocks' arrival here in Mzansi on Wednesday Sundowns officials and football fans have been enquiring about his availability. What about the Sundowns' CBD effect minus a C? The famous CBD has Castro , Khama Billiat and Keegan Dolly. However, the towering Castro, who hails from Columbia, is reportedly out of this match owing to an injury he suffered over a week ago. Castro has however been training with his teammates. Chicken Inn's Lawrence Mhlanga and Moses Jackson will be expected to again stand imperiously at the heart of defence and receive adequate cover from captain and reigning Soccer Star of the Year Danny Phiri who has since recovered from a mini stomach upset he had on Thursday night at around 10pm. Phiri with the help of lanky holding midfielder Tafadzwa Kutinyu, will be expected to cut the Downs supply line. While Chicken Inn are most likely to seek to play on the counter, a fit again Clemence Matawu, who missed the first leg, is also likely to be thrust in midfield with Chirambadare pulling the strings on the left side of the midfield. The striking pair of Tarumbwa and Katsvairo is expected not to disappoint by holding the ball well and ask questions on the Sundowns defence each time the Gamecocks are on the offensive. Mosimane has made it no secret his desire to see a star above the Sundowns badge. That dream could remain just a dream if the Brazilians fail to shrug off Joey Antipas' charges. Mosimane says it will boil down to the hunger of his players to take them to the group stages of the Champions League.
"It's not up to me but it's up to the guys. Do they really want it? Is it important? We need to show character, double efforts and without any complaints win against Chicken Inn, South Africa wants teams in the Champions League. Let's go and fight," said Mosimane. Meanwhile, Zimbabwe internationals that ply their trade in the South Africa-Absa Premiership who include on fire ex-Gamecocks forward Tendai Ndoro, Partson Jaure and Washington Arubi have been constantly visiting their fellow countrymen at their hotel giving them morale support.
Chicken Inn on Thursday managed to train under floodlights for the first time and the technical team led by Antipas expressed satisfaction with the way the boys adapted. They were expected to have a feel of the match venue last night ahead of the titanic clash tonight.
Question: Will the Chicken manage to cross the road? Answer: Time will tell.
Chicken Probable Line Up:
E Chipezeze, P Benard , D Lunga, L Mhlanga, M Jackson, R Kutinyu, D, Phiri , C Matawu, O Tarumbwa, M Katsvairo, E Chirambadare.
Kickoff is at 8:15pm.
Despite complaining of a groin injury during their Thursday morning training session that was held at Clamphan High School, Chirambadare, a national team player who possesses silky dribbling skills, has vowed to give out his best against their highly respected opponents.
"We're here on a mission. We're here to finish off Sundowns. Half of the job was done in Zimbabwe and we came here to conclude our mission. I promise to give it all. It's now not about the club but the nation. I know there'll be a lot of pressure but pressure was also there when we met them at Barbourfields Stadium," said Chirambadare who looked sharp at their evening work out that was held at Sundowns' Chloorkop Ground on Thursday.
The Zimbabwean soccer champions made a mockery of pre-match odds in the first leg as they dismissed Pitso Mosimane's men courtesy of a Katsvairo wonder strike in the 34th minute. Evergreen Tarumbwa, a veteran of many football battles who permanently joined the Innscor sponsored outfit early this year, says they are able to fight with their all to defeat Amasandawana tonight.
"We're one foot in (to the next stage). Our best at the end of the day will be managing to repeat that Barbourfields act. We've to make sure that we don't concede and we're not intimidated at all despite the high player profiles at Sundowns. We're going to focus on playing our style," said Tarumbwa.
The Barbourfields hero, Katsvairo, is also a believer.
"Nothing can stop us. We're in control. They chased shadows in Zimbabwe after many had tipped them to beat us. They're a bruised lot and we'll inflict more pain to them as a team. I believe a collective effort will take us to the next round," said the lively attacker whom since the Gamecocks' arrival here in Mzansi on Wednesday Sundowns officials and football fans have been enquiring about his availability. What about the Sundowns' CBD effect minus a C? The famous CBD has Castro , Khama Billiat and Keegan Dolly. However, the towering Castro, who hails from Columbia, is reportedly out of this match owing to an injury he suffered over a week ago. Castro has however been training with his teammates. Chicken Inn's Lawrence Mhlanga and Moses Jackson will be expected to again stand imperiously at the heart of defence and receive adequate cover from captain and reigning Soccer Star of the Year Danny Phiri who has since recovered from a mini stomach upset he had on Thursday night at around 10pm. Phiri with the help of lanky holding midfielder Tafadzwa Kutinyu, will be expected to cut the Downs supply line. While Chicken Inn are most likely to seek to play on the counter, a fit again Clemence Matawu, who missed the first leg, is also likely to be thrust in midfield with Chirambadare pulling the strings on the left side of the midfield. The striking pair of Tarumbwa and Katsvairo is expected not to disappoint by holding the ball well and ask questions on the Sundowns defence each time the Gamecocks are on the offensive. Mosimane has made it no secret his desire to see a star above the Sundowns badge. That dream could remain just a dream if the Brazilians fail to shrug off Joey Antipas' charges. Mosimane says it will boil down to the hunger of his players to take them to the group stages of the Champions League.
"It's not up to me but it's up to the guys. Do they really want it? Is it important? We need to show character, double efforts and without any complaints win against Chicken Inn, South Africa wants teams in the Champions League. Let's go and fight," said Mosimane. Meanwhile, Zimbabwe internationals that ply their trade in the South Africa-Absa Premiership who include on fire ex-Gamecocks forward Tendai Ndoro, Partson Jaure and Washington Arubi have been constantly visiting their fellow countrymen at their hotel giving them morale support.
Chicken Inn on Thursday managed to train under floodlights for the first time and the technical team led by Antipas expressed satisfaction with the way the boys adapted. They were expected to have a feel of the match venue last night ahead of the titanic clash tonight.
Question: Will the Chicken manage to cross the road? Answer: Time will tell.
Chicken Probable Line Up:
E Chipezeze, P Benard , D Lunga, L Mhlanga, M Jackson, R Kutinyu, D, Phiri , C Matawu, O Tarumbwa, M Katsvairo, E Chirambadare.
Source - chronicle
