Sports / Local
Bosso to pluck Chicken Inn's wings this afternoon promises Akbay
03 Jul 2016 at 02:09hrs | Views
HIGHLANDERS coach Erol Akbay can bring to an end Chicken Inn's dominance over Bosso when the two teams clash in a Castle Lager Premier Soccer League contest at Barbourfields Stadium this afternoon.
Chicken Inn have given the table topping Highlanders all sorts of problems when there are three points at stake since they got into the top flight in 2011.
Their only loss to Highlanders in a league encounter was in the first ever meeting between the two teams in May 2011 when Bosso triumphed 2-1 at Luveve Stadium. Since then, the best Bosso could get against the Gamecocks were draws.
Last season, Chicken Inn took six points from Highlanders with a 2-1 triumph followed up by a 3-2 victory in matches played at Barbourfields Stadium.
Akbay, who has already made history by giving Highlanders their first ever league win over Dynamos since 2006 and last Sunday picked up Bosso's maiden victory over ZPC Kariba can claim victory over another problematic opponent. If he can continue with that fine show, which has seen Highlanders go for nine matches without tasting defeat a win over Chicken Inn could be in the bag for Bosso this afternoon. The Dutchman conceded that Chicken Inn are difficult opponents but noted that they are not doing well, something which does not concern him as all he wants is to record a win against them.
"Every game that we have to play now is difficult because all the teams are very good, actually when they play against us they are super good, that means we have to focus on our game so we that we win every game. Chicken Inn is a very difficult team to beat but also I see in the last few weeks actually this year they are not doing so well. I don't care why, all I care about is that we have to win against them. As a coach I have my own pressure to myself because I am a coach who always wants to win, this has made my job more difficult because I am a winner,'' said Akbay.
Highlanders begin life without striker Knox Mutizwa who left yesterday to join South African Premiership side Bidvest Wits. Akbay said with the 2015 Golden Boot winner gone, he has to turn to another striker with different attributes. Nhlanhla Ndlovu, signed from Amagagasi is not available for selection as yet because even with the international transfer window having opened on Friday, it appears that local teams cannot register new players as yet.
Akbay and goalkeepers coach Cosmas "Tsano" Zulu came out in full defence of goalkeeper Njabulo Nyoni who has kept clean sheets in the three matches he started. Zulu said all over the world goalkeepers make mistakes while Akbay went on to give attributes for Nyoni and Ariel Sibanda. According to the Bosso head coach, Nyoni is good in the air while Sibanda is brilliant on the ground which means that the decision which man he chooses to guard the posts depends on the kind of opponents.
Whichever goalkeeper Akbay and Zulu decide to go with this afternoon is sure to get good cover from Felix Chindungwe, Peter Muduhwa, Honest Moyo and Benson Phiri. King Nadolo and Rahman Kutsanzira are still out injured which means that the Bosso midfield is still lacking in terms of creativity. Kangwa has been in superb form in attack which saw him head into the weekend's matches being the leading goal scorer with six strikes to his name.
Adrian Silla, Kangwa, Erick Mudzingwa, Simon Munawa, Brian Banda, Tendai Ngulube are Akbay's options in the middle of the park. Prince Dube is sure to lead Bosso firepower with either Ralph Matema or Kasimero Chimbadzwa to partner him. Defending champions Chicken Inn are slowly trying to get over their devastating start to the season with four points collected in their last two outings. New coach Rahman Gumbo, brought in to succeed Joey Antipas has to contend with an unsettled camp which has seen the departure of strikers Michelle Katsvairo and Edmore Chirambadare who have joined Kaizer Chiefs while skipper Danny Phiri, fellow midfielder Tafadzwa Kutinyu as well as goalkeeper Elvis Chipezeze could also be leaving the club this month for South Africa.
Gumbo comes up against a team where he made a name for himself as a player and also won two champions at Bosso as a coach and is now being tasked with the job of derailing their quest for a first ever championship since 2006.
If he has to be successful in doing that, Chipezeze, Passmore Bernard, Teenage Hadebe, Thabani Goredema, Kutinyu, Moses Demera, Clemence Matawu, George Majika and Obadiah Tarumbwa will have to be at their best. Gumbo has problems at the back with Devine Lunga ruled out after accumulating three yellow cards while Lawrence Mhlanga is suspended following his sending off against Tsholotsho.
In other fixtures lined up for this afternoon, Border Strikers entertain Harare City at Dulivhadzimu, Triangle welcome Tsholotsho to Gibbo, Mutare City Rovers have a date with FC Platinum at Sakubva while Caps United go up against Hwange at an unfamiliar Rufaro, away from Makepekepe's usual home ground of the National Sports Stadium.
Fixtures Today:
Chicken Inn v Highlanders (Barbourfields Stadium),
Border Strikers v Harare City (Dulivhadzimu Stadium),
Triangle United v Tsholotsho (Gibbo Stadium),
Mutare City Rovers v FC Platinum (Sakubva Stadium),
Caps United v Hwange (Rufaro Stadium)
Chicken Inn have given the table topping Highlanders all sorts of problems when there are three points at stake since they got into the top flight in 2011.
Their only loss to Highlanders in a league encounter was in the first ever meeting between the two teams in May 2011 when Bosso triumphed 2-1 at Luveve Stadium. Since then, the best Bosso could get against the Gamecocks were draws.
Last season, Chicken Inn took six points from Highlanders with a 2-1 triumph followed up by a 3-2 victory in matches played at Barbourfields Stadium.
Akbay, who has already made history by giving Highlanders their first ever league win over Dynamos since 2006 and last Sunday picked up Bosso's maiden victory over ZPC Kariba can claim victory over another problematic opponent. If he can continue with that fine show, which has seen Highlanders go for nine matches without tasting defeat a win over Chicken Inn could be in the bag for Bosso this afternoon. The Dutchman conceded that Chicken Inn are difficult opponents but noted that they are not doing well, something which does not concern him as all he wants is to record a win against them.
"Every game that we have to play now is difficult because all the teams are very good, actually when they play against us they are super good, that means we have to focus on our game so we that we win every game. Chicken Inn is a very difficult team to beat but also I see in the last few weeks actually this year they are not doing so well. I don't care why, all I care about is that we have to win against them. As a coach I have my own pressure to myself because I am a coach who always wants to win, this has made my job more difficult because I am a winner,'' said Akbay.
Highlanders begin life without striker Knox Mutizwa who left yesterday to join South African Premiership side Bidvest Wits. Akbay said with the 2015 Golden Boot winner gone, he has to turn to another striker with different attributes. Nhlanhla Ndlovu, signed from Amagagasi is not available for selection as yet because even with the international transfer window having opened on Friday, it appears that local teams cannot register new players as yet.
Akbay and goalkeepers coach Cosmas "Tsano" Zulu came out in full defence of goalkeeper Njabulo Nyoni who has kept clean sheets in the three matches he started. Zulu said all over the world goalkeepers make mistakes while Akbay went on to give attributes for Nyoni and Ariel Sibanda. According to the Bosso head coach, Nyoni is good in the air while Sibanda is brilliant on the ground which means that the decision which man he chooses to guard the posts depends on the kind of opponents.
Whichever goalkeeper Akbay and Zulu decide to go with this afternoon is sure to get good cover from Felix Chindungwe, Peter Muduhwa, Honest Moyo and Benson Phiri. King Nadolo and Rahman Kutsanzira are still out injured which means that the Bosso midfield is still lacking in terms of creativity. Kangwa has been in superb form in attack which saw him head into the weekend's matches being the leading goal scorer with six strikes to his name.
Adrian Silla, Kangwa, Erick Mudzingwa, Simon Munawa, Brian Banda, Tendai Ngulube are Akbay's options in the middle of the park. Prince Dube is sure to lead Bosso firepower with either Ralph Matema or Kasimero Chimbadzwa to partner him. Defending champions Chicken Inn are slowly trying to get over their devastating start to the season with four points collected in their last two outings. New coach Rahman Gumbo, brought in to succeed Joey Antipas has to contend with an unsettled camp which has seen the departure of strikers Michelle Katsvairo and Edmore Chirambadare who have joined Kaizer Chiefs while skipper Danny Phiri, fellow midfielder Tafadzwa Kutinyu as well as goalkeeper Elvis Chipezeze could also be leaving the club this month for South Africa.
Gumbo comes up against a team where he made a name for himself as a player and also won two champions at Bosso as a coach and is now being tasked with the job of derailing their quest for a first ever championship since 2006.
If he has to be successful in doing that, Chipezeze, Passmore Bernard, Teenage Hadebe, Thabani Goredema, Kutinyu, Moses Demera, Clemence Matawu, George Majika and Obadiah Tarumbwa will have to be at their best. Gumbo has problems at the back with Devine Lunga ruled out after accumulating three yellow cards while Lawrence Mhlanga is suspended following his sending off against Tsholotsho.
In other fixtures lined up for this afternoon, Border Strikers entertain Harare City at Dulivhadzimu, Triangle welcome Tsholotsho to Gibbo, Mutare City Rovers have a date with FC Platinum at Sakubva while Caps United go up against Hwange at an unfamiliar Rufaro, away from Makepekepe's usual home ground of the National Sports Stadium.
Fixtures Today:
Chicken Inn v Highlanders (Barbourfields Stadium),
Border Strikers v Harare City (Dulivhadzimu Stadium),
Triangle United v Tsholotsho (Gibbo Stadium),
Mutare City Rovers v FC Platinum (Sakubva Stadium),
Caps United v Hwange (Rufaro Stadium)
Source - Sunday News
