CHICKEN Inn coach Joey Antipas wants a perfect performance from his side when they clash with in-form Highlanders in a potentially explosive Castle Lager Premier Soccer League match at Barbourfields Stadium this afternoon.
The Gamecocks started off the season well with a win against Caps United away in Gweru, but returned home where they were held to a goalless draw by new boys Arenel Movers before another 2-2 draw on the road with FC Platinum.
They played another goalless stalemate with ZPC Kariba at Luveve and as if that was not enough, they travelled and returned home empty handed, suffering a 1-0 defeat to the then struggling Manica Diamonds at Sakubva Stadium.
Their solace was beating Green Fuel 2-0 at Luveve last weekend and hope to carry that form to Highlanders today.
But Antipas is cagey.
“In local derbies, emotions run high and we just have to be calm and calculating if we have to come up with a positive result. We are playing against an in-form Highlanders, who are doing great and have not lost a match (in the league). They are playing well and getting the results. For us, we have to come up with our ‘A’ game. Highlanders have our former striker (Brighton Ncube), who has hit top form there and they also have Devine (Mhindirira), who is back from injury. We just have to buckle up in defence,” Antipas said.
Chicken Inn beat Highlanders and drew with them last year at BF.
They will be without suspended Elshamar Farasi and Brighton Makopa today while Clive Augusto is out with an injury.
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When they beat Green Fuel last week, Makopa and Michael Charamba were on target.
The Bulawayo giants have this year won four games. They drew two in their first six games and rule the roost on the log-standings and come into today’s match fresh from a 1-0 defeat to Dynamos in the Independence Cup in which Kelvin Kaindu used a second string side.
In the league, Lynoth Chikuhwa has banged in four goals and leads the scorers’ pack with Ncube on three goals.
Also menacing at Highlanders is midfielder Melikhaya Ncube with the return of Mhindirira in the centre, a big boost for Bosso.
Meanwhile, despite beating Highlanders in the Independence Cup final last Thursday, it is not looking good for Dynamos coach Genesis Mangombe in the league as fans' patience seems to be running out especially after The Glamour Boys’ defeat last week to Simba Bhora.
They face TelOne at Rufaro Stadium this afternoon and a defeat for Dynamos could spell disaster for Mangombe.
The loss to Simba Bhora was their second defeat after losing the first game to Highlanders and have only won one game while drawing three. High-riding Simba Bhora, second on the log-standings with four wins, a draw and a defeat, are away to Bulawayo Chiefs at Luveve Stadium this afternoon.
Fixtures
Today: Highlanders v Chicken Inn (BF), Hwange v Ngezi (Colliery), Dynamos v TelOne (Rufaro), Bulawayo Chiefs v Simba Bhora (Luveve)
