CHICKEN INN return to Mandava Stadium where in March last year they lifted the NetOne Charity Shield after beating Caps United 3-2 in the final to pick up their first piece of silverware after promotion to the Premier Soccer League in 2011.
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They dedicated that trophy to their late coach, the legendary Adam Ndlovu, who died in a traffic accident in December 2012. This year they edged FC Platinum 1-0 at the same venue to sail through to the semi-final of the One Wallet Cup. They will clash with Triangle on Saturday.
Chicken Inn chairman Lifa Ncube yesterday said the NetOne-sponsored tournament belongs to them and they are glad to be returning to Mandava.
“The NetOne tournament is ours and it is good that we are going back to Mandava where we won the NetOne Charity Shield last year. We want to retain it although we have much respect for Triangle,” Ncube said.
Coach Joey Antipas has been under the spotlight after enduring a bad spell, but the GameCocks have gone on a four-match unbeaten run in the league despite being bundled out of the Chibuku Super Cup by How Mine in the first round at Mandava on August 16.
After losing 1-0 to Caps United in Harare on August 3, Chicken Inn held champions Dynamos 1-1 back in the capital.
They came back home and edged Hwange 1-0 at Luveve, beat Chiredzi by the same scoreline at Chishamiso Stadium before dismissing Shabanie Mine 2-0 at Hartsfield Ground last Saturday.
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Ncube admitted the bad spell, but said they wanted to continue with their good run.
“Despite losing in the Chibuku Super Cup, we have played four matches unbeaten in the league and we want to continue with that good form.
“When the season started we had a number of injuries. We had Charles Mutero and Ben Nyahunzvi injured then we had Deco (Danny Phiri) going for trials in South Africa. When he came back, he was injured. We also had Mkhokheli Dube going to the US for a month and that affected us.
“But now the coach has everyone in,” Ncube said.
Triangle beat Hwange 4-3 in a penalty shoot-out in the first round of the Chibuku Super Cup at the Colliery and have lost two of their last league matches to Highlanders (Hartsfield) and Dynamos at Gibbo.
Coach Biggie Zuze hopes to rise from that slumber and hopefully take Triangle to their first final of a cup tournament since promotion to top-flight football last year.
Winners between the two date winners between Dynamos and How Mine who play another semi-final on Sunday at Mandava Stadium.
