SEVEN key Chicken Inn players commenced training with the rest of the squad yesterday at Hartsfield Ground as they prepare for their Caf Champions League football clash against South African Premier League side Mamelodi Sundowns at Barbourfields Stadium on Saturday.
BY THANDIWE MOYO
Elvis Chipezeze, Lawrence Mhlanga, Edmore Chirambadare, Moses Demera, Danny Phiri, Lewis Matawu and Teenage Hadebe were all not part of the team that played in Zambia.
Chipezeze, Mhlanga, Chirambadare and Demera were part of the Warriors squad that participated at the African Nations Championship tournament in Rwanda.
Coach Joey Antipas said they were almost done with their preparations.
“We are more or less done. Seven of our key players have joined the team and they are training well. We did not travel with them to Zambia and we want to see how we can gel with the rest of the squad,” he said.
Antipas said the trip to Zambia was a learning curve for the players and he said there were areas where they have to work on before the Saturday match.
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“It was a good trip and a learning curve for the boys because they had not played outside the country. Everything was conducive for us and it was also good for bonding. The boys had a good run with regard to game time,” he said.
Antipas said the competitions were “high intensity and very competitive”, adding that there were good opponents.
Chicken Inn lost 0-2 to Zesco, 1-3 to Azam of Tanzania and drew 2-all with Zanaco.
“We conceded seven goals and we feel we need to work on our concentration levels and communication. I wouldn’t want to blame the players, but there was an element of lack of match fitness and our concentration levels were down. The goals we conceded were not fantastic, but we lacked concentration,” he said.
Antipas said they have to get their tactics right when they face Sundowns at the weekend.
In 2011, Antipas took Motor Action to the African Safari, but they were knocked out in the first round.
“You have to get your tactics right when you play against African teams. We have to get a positive result especially when you are playing at home first. It will be a difficult game because we are playing against the best in Africa,” he said.
