ZImbabwean football champions Chicken Inn arrived in Pretoria on Wednesday afternoon and were last night expected to have their first training session under floodlights at Chloorkop Training Grounds before they have the feel of the match venue against Mamelodi Sundowns at Lucas Moripe Stadium tonight.
BY FORTUNE MBELE
The Joey Antipas-coached side clash with Sundowns in the Caf Champions League preliminary round second leg at 8:30pm tomorrow.
“We arrived around 3pm yesterday (Wednesday) and we will have a training session under floodlights this evening,” Antipas said yesterday.
Joey Antipas [/Caption]
Club spokesperson Tavengwa Hara confirmed the Castle Lager Premier Soccer League champions’ training programme before the crunch tie tomorrow night.
“They are staying at an upmarket hotel in Pretoria and they have two training sessions today (yesterday), one in the morning and at night under floodlights at Chloorkop Grounds. Tomorrow (today) they will train in the morning before another session at night at Lucas Moripe Stadium,” Hara said.
Antipas has been desperate for some training sessions under floodlights since his players have not been exposed to such an experience.
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They could not train under floodlights back home because of the unaffordably high cost with Bulawayo City Council charging $4 000 an hour to switch on the Barbourfields Stadium lights.
The Gamecocks carry a 1-0 lead from the first leg played on February 13 at Barbourfields with the solitary goal coming from Michelle Katsvairo in the first half and an early goal in Pretoria tomorrow night could help their cause.
Chicken Inn have been boosted by the return of veteran midfielder Clemence Matawu, who replaced Canaan Nkomo.
Antipas said he will employ a cautious approach, sitting back hoping to catch their opponents on the break.
Obadiah Tarumbwa, Edmore Chirambadare and Katsvairo are likely to take their places in the attack, while skipper Danny “Deco” Phiri operates at the base of the midfield. Sundowns welcome back slippery Khama Billiat, who missed the first leg due to a stiff hamstring.
Billiat was pulled out six minutes before the final whistle together with Kegan Dolly while Leonardo Castro did not feature in the 2-1 victory over Mpumalanga Black Aces in a South African Premiership match played at Lucas Moripe on Wednesday night.
They scored their two goals inside the first 10 minutes through Mzikayise Mashaba and Hlompho Kekana.
