Ricky Zililo
Senior Sports Reporter
CHICKEN Inn captain Danny Phiri has said they have to quickly adapt to playing under floodlights when they take on Mamelodi Sundowns in the return leg of the Caf Champions League preliminary round on Saturday night at the Lucas Masterpieces Moripe Stadium in Pretoria since it’s new to most of his teammates.
The Zimbabwean champions carry a slender 1-0 lead to Pretoria. “To be honest, it won’t be easy playing under floodlights away from home. They (Sundowns) are used to it (playing at night) and this means we’ve to take the same attitude we had in the first leg to Pretoria so that we get a positive result.
“The good thing is that our fitness levels have improved and what remains for us is to stick to the game plan, have maximum concentration and take the chances we create,” said Phiri.
Exorbitant ground hiring fees by the local authority made it impossible for Chicken Inn to hold training sessions under floodlights at Barbourfields Stadium.
Chicken Inn board member Tavengwa Hara said Bulawayo City Council quoted them $4,000 for a one hour session under floodlights.
Hara said they have arranged to hold three training sessions starting this evening in South Africa where hiring facilities is cheaper.
Coach Joey Antipas is, however, confident that his boys will easily adapt to playing under floodlights.
“If we manage to train under floodlights three times, we should be able to adapt. This is continental football and we’ve to be prepared for anything. The good thing is that the boys are willing to die for a positive result. What we just have to do is come up with a disciplined plan and if we perform like we did in the first leg, we can get a positive result,” Antipas said.
Phiri also appealed to South Africa-based Zimbabweans to rally behind the Gamecocks to help neutralise the Sundowns’ faithfuls while they fight on the field to knock Sundowns out of the tournament.
“Everyone is ready and focused on the job at hand. The guys understand that we’ve a tough job to do and we’ve to do our utmost best to ensure we make ourselves, the club and country proud. We’re grateful to the fans that backed us in the first leg and we hope Zimbabweans in South Africa come in their numbers to support us because we’re representing the country,” said Phiri.
The winner of Saturday’s encounter will set a Caf Champions League first round date with AC Leopards of Congo Brazzaville.
Antipas made one change to the 18-member squad that beat Sundowns in Bulawayo. Veteran midfielder Clemence Matawu, who missed the first leg due to lack of match fitness, replaces Canaan Nkomo.
Travelling squad
Goalkeepers: Elvis Chipezeze, Pride Zendera
Defenders: Passmore Bernard, Devine Lunga, Lawrence Mhlanga, Moses Jackson, Ben Nyahunzwi
Midfielders: Danny Phiri, Clemence Matawu, Tafadzwa Kutinyu, George Majika, Thabani Goredema, Brian Juru, Physwell Madhazi, Edmore Chirambadare
Strikers: Obidiah Tarumbwa, Mitchelle Katsvairo, Moses Demera