Danny Phiri in national team colours
Ricky Zililo Senior Sports Reporter
THE Castle Lager Premier Soccer League title destination could be decided at Luveve Stadium tomorrow where table-toppers Chicken Inn take on second placed FC Platinum. With just four points separating the two teams, there’s all to play for as the championship race heads to the wire.
Chicken Inn are on 52 points and after tomorrow’s clash, there will be four rounds of matches remaining before the curtain comes down on the 2015 season.
A victory for the Gamecocks will see them stretch their lead to seven points, leaving the ambitious Bulawayo side, which is in its fifth year in the PSL, needing just six points from four games to clinch the title.
Like Chicken Inn, FC Platinum have been in the topflight for five years and they would also want to celebrate by winning the championship by reducing the gap to just one point.
Chicken Inn and FC Platinum will be meeting for the 10th time in the league. The previous nine meetings have seen them play to five draws and each side winning two games.
Chicken Inn were the last to record victory during the first leg of the 2015 season when they beat the platinum miners 3-1 at Mandava Stadium.
It was Gamecocks’ first victory over the miners in Zvishavane.
FC Platinum have never beaten Chicken Inn in Bulawayo and the Zvishavane side will be hoping to break that jinx if they harbour any hopes of moving to within a point of the log leaders.
The platinum miners have had fruitful visits to Bulawayo this season, managing to collect seven points in their three games against Highlanders, How Mine and Tsholotsho FC.
They beat Highlanders 2-1, thumped How Mine 3-0 and drew 0-0 against Tsholotsho.
FC Platinum’s matches against How Mine and Tsholotsho FC were played at the same venue of tomorrow’s clash against the Gamecocks.
FC Platinum will also go into tomorrow’s match seeking to maintain their 16-game unbeaten run stretching back to 10 May when they lost 1-0 to Dynamos in Harare.
During their impressive unbeaten run, the miners have collected a massive 38 points out of a possible 48. These points came courtesy of 11 wins and five draws.
Chicken Inn have managed to win 10 matches in their last 16 outings, losing four and drawing twice, and amassing 32 points in the process.
However, these statistics count for nothing going into the match.
Speaking from Johannesburg yesterday, Chicken Inn captain Danny “Deco” Phiri, who is expected to join his clubmates from national duty, described tomorrow’s game as one that “we can’t afford to lose”.
“Let me point out that even though we can’t afford to lose this game, this doesn’t mean that we’re under pressure because the four-point gap we’re enjoying is a solid lead,” Phiri said.
Judging by his sentiments, the Gamecocks will be comfortable to get a point, with a win being a bonus.
That means FC Platinum will be the ones under pressure to close the gap, leaving them vulnerable at the back as they search for victory.
The Gamecocks, who have been without their key players Phiri, joint league top scorer Edmore Chirambadare, goalkeeper Elvis Chipezeze and defender Lawrence Mhlanga, are praying that the quartet did not pick up injuries in the Warriors’ match against Lesotho.
The four have been vital cogs in Chicken Inn’s campaign and are expected to join their clubmates this afternoon from Harare.
Some of Chicken Inn’s trump cards include Moses Jackson, Passmore Bernard, utility player Clemence Matawu, Brian Mbiriri, George Majika and Mitchell Katsvairo.
FC Platinum also have equally good players that thrive on pace and skill.
National Under-23 anchorman Gerald Takwara, the central defensive duo of Gift Bello and Elvis Moyo, leftback Kevin Moyo, rightback Raphael Muduvihwa, playmaker Winston Mhango and forwards Obrey Chirwa as well as Brian Muzondiwa are some of the players Chicken Inn should be wary of.
The miners also have skipper and goalkeeper Petros Mhari to protect their goal against Chicken Inn’s attackers.
Chicken Inn, FC Platinum head-to-head
2011: FC Platinum 1-1 Chicken Inn (first leg); Chicken Inn 1-1 FC Platinum (second leg)
2012: Chicken Inn 1-1 FC Platinum (first leg); FC Platinum 1-1 Chicken Inn (second leg)
2013: FC Platinum 2-1 Chicken Inn (first leg); Chicken Inn 2-0 FC Platinum (second leg)
2014: Chicken Inn 2-2 FC Platinum (first leg); FC Platinum 2-0 Chicken Inn (second leg)
2015: FC Platinum 1-3 Chicken Inn (first leg); Chicken Inn ?-? FC Platinum (second leg)