Matawu boost for Chicken Inn

Clemence MATAWU

Veteran midfielder Clemence Matawu is part of the Chicken Inn squad that is set to take on crack South African outfit Mamelodi Sundowns in a Caf Champions League preliminary round second leg encounter on Saturday night.

Matawu, who missed the first leg as he was still recovering from injury, replaced Canaan Nkomo in the 18-man squad that will travel to South Africa on Wednesday afternoon.

The Gamecocks carry a 1-0 lead into the second leg encounter which is set for the Lucas Moripe Stadium in Pretoria and their head coach Joey Antipas is hoping for a positive result that will see them through to the next round.

Joey ANTIPAS

“One thing we know is that we will have our work cut out by a Sundowns side that will be baying for our blood. For us to get a positive result we have to once again come up with a great performance like we did in the first leg,” said Antipas.

Chicken Inn are expected in South Africa on Wednesday afternoon and team secretary Tawengwa Hara said they have lined up some training sessions under floodlights since the match will be played at night.

Tawengwa HARA

“The team is leaving early for South Africa so that they can have time to train under floodlights which was not possible here because the charges we were asked to pay were very exorbitant,” Hara said.

The Chicken Inn official said the reigning Castle Premiership champions were asked to part with nearly $4 000 to train under floodlights at Barbourfields.

Plans to train at the Khumalo Hockey Stadium, where the charges are lower, were scuppered by the poor state of the playing surface at the facility.

The winner of the preliminary round encounter between the Gamecocks and Amasandawana will face Congolese outfit AC Leopards in the first round.

Chicken Inn squad

Goalkeepers:

Elvis Chipezeze, Pride Zendera.

Defenders:

Passmore Bernard, Divine Lunga, Lawrence Mhlanga, Moses Jackson, Ben Nyahunzvi.

Midfielders:

Danny Phiri, Brian Juru, Tafadzwa Kutinyu, Clemence Matawu, Thabani Goredema, Physwell Madhazi, George Majika, Edmore Chirambadare.

Strikers:

Obidiah Tarumbwa, Michelle Katsvairo and Moses Demera.