Friends turn foes in Bulawayo derby

Sport
BY FORTUNE MBELE CHICKEN Inn captain Moses Jackson has urged his teammates to put friendships aside when they clash with Highlanders in Group 2 match of the Chibuku Super Cup at Barbourfields Stadium in Bulawayo tomorrow. The sides got off to victories in their first games last weekend with the GameCocks beating Bulawayo City 2-0 […]

BY FORTUNE MBELE

CHICKEN Inn captain Moses Jackson has urged his teammates to put friendships aside when they clash with Highlanders in Group 2 match of the Chibuku Super Cup at Barbourfields Stadium in Bulawayo tomorrow.

The sides got off to victories in their first games last weekend with the GameCocks beating Bulawayo City 2-0 on Saturday while Bosso got the better of Bulawayo Chiefs 1-0 on Sunday.

Chicken Inn are one of the favourites to lift the trophy, but Jackson is  focused on beating Highlanders and maintaining a stranglehold at the top of the Group Two table.

“We are just going to take it like any other game. Nothing is going to change. We know each other very well with the Highlanders’ players. We meet every day; we are friends but as for tomorrow, it is friendship after the game. We will hear what the coach has to say, but usually, games like these are a motivation in themselves. We expect to beat Highlanders, but I can’t talk about winning the cup for now. All I can say is morale is high and the boys are raring to go,” Jackson said.

George Majika and Obriel Chirinda were on target for Chicken Inn against Bulawayo City, playing in a team that also has Brett Amidu, Malvin Gaki, Clive Dzingai, Ian Nekati and Donavan Bernard.

Highlanders gaffer Mandla “Lulu” Mpofu is cautious about Chicken Inn.

“Preparations have gone well so far after our first game against Chiefs. We have an injury-free squad. We are playing Chicken Inn and we all know their intentions, they are an ambitious side and they have won trophies before. They are well-resourced and they have got good players. It is not going to be easy for us, but as Highlanders, we can always rise to the occasion and make sure that we go into Sunday’s game and win it,” Mpofu said.

He said he is taking these games as pre-season matches although mindful of the need to win and be able to defend the Chibuku Super Cup.

“It’s not going to be easy. It’s a tough match. We need to dig deeper to come out with a positive result. I was happy with the performance and result after the Bulawayo Chiefs’ game, but to me, these are pre-season games, but of course, there is pressure to win. We will give each of our eligible players a chance to play. We will make changes to the team and people will wonder why but we will give everybody an opportunity to play,” Mpofu said.

Their new striker Washington Navaya scored the winner against Bulawayo Chiefs.

  • Follow Fortune on Twitter @fmbele

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