Antipas cautious ahead of Dynamos clash

Sport
CHICKEN Inn coach Joey Antipas says beating Dynamos on Sunday will be a psychological boost for his charges as they make the trip to Harare for a top-of-the-table clash against the defending champions in a Castle Lager Premier Soccer League (PSL) match at Rufaro Stadium.

CHICKEN Inn coach Joey Antipas says beating Dynamos on Sunday will be a psychological boost for his charges as they make the trip to Harare for a top-of-the-table clash against the defending champions in a Castle Lager Premier Soccer League (PSL) match at Rufaro Stadium.

BY TAWANDA TAFIRENYIKA

Chicken Inn have made a bold statement of intent as they now enjoy top spot on the log standings with 15 points from six matches, while Dynamos are trailing behind on 14 points.

They have caught the eye with their flawless game which has seen them winning five matches and losing one in six so far in the campaign.

They got off to a good start, overcoming Flame Lilly 2-1 in a season opener before succumbing to a 2-0 loss to Harare City.

But Chicken Inn regrouped to collect maximum points against Tsholotsho (1-0), Whawha (2-0), FC Platinum (3-1) and the recent 1-0 victory over How Mine.

Antipas says they have picked form at the right time as they face Dynamos in what could provide a yardstick of how they would fare for the rest of the campaign.

“It (the good run) has given us confidence. If we could beat Dynamos, it will give us confidence going into the next matches. We are aware we are facing the defending champions and we have a game on our hands. We have a closely knit team and I think it is unity more than anything else that has helped us to be where we are right now,” Antipas said.

“We don’t have individual stars and play as a team and stick to the basics of the game. We are just going into the match against Dynamos with a positive mind. We are not talking about challenging for the championship yet, but are taking it game by game.”

Meetings between the two sides have always been feisty. They have met six times in the league since 2012, with four of those encounters ending in stalemates with Chicken Inn running away 1-0 victors in September 2012, while Dynamos overpowered them 2-1 in May the same year.

With just one point separating them at the top of the league table, Dynamos will be hoping to collect maximum points which would catapult them to the top of the league table.

Dynamos coach David Mandigora’s charges are coming from a drawn game against Harare City and would need nothing short of victory on Sunday to stay clear of Triangle and Highlanders.

Fixtures: Friday: FC Platinum v Tsholotsho (Mandava) Saturday: How Mine v Whawha (Barbourfields, SS9), ZPC Kariba v Flame Lily (Gwanzura) Sunday: Highlanders v Caps United (Barbourfields, SS9), Buffaloes v Chapungu (Sakubva), Hwange v Dongo Sawmill (Colliery), Triangle v Harare City (Gibbo), Dynamos v Chicken Inn (Rufaro).