Mamelodi Sundowns Head Coach, Pitso Mosimane

by SIMBA RUSHWAYA
Pretoria Bureau Chief
PRETORIA – SURPRISE Zimbabwean package, Chicken Inn, revelling at their tag as underdogs ahead of their Confederation of African Football Champions (CAF) league encounter against Mamelodi Sundowns, have vowed to finish off their more illustrious opponents when the two teams clash this weekend.

The visitors have their tails up ahead of the first round, second leg tie set for the Lucas Moripe Stadium on Saturday, two weeks after they won the reverse fixture at Luveve Stadium in Bulawayo, the country’s second largest city.

Chicken Inn surprised the expensively-assembled Sundowns with a solitary goal courtesy of Misheck Katsvairo coming against the run of play.

Brazilians coach, Pitso Mosimane, declared soon after the defeat his Pretoria-based side will avenge the loss, which sets the stage for a mouth-watering contest against the team from just across the Limpopo.

However, Joey Antipas, the Gamecocks gaffer, is not intimidated by Sundowns’ impressive domestic run and is hopeful of completing a famous
double.

“Before our game against Sundowns in Zimbabwe, there was a lot of talk about how big and expensive their team is but that is not my concern
because football is played on the field not on paper,” says Antipas.

“I have a bunch of committed players who are compact and stick to our game plan. I’m confident we will pull off a result in Pretoria.

“I will not reveal my tactics ahead of the match, but I have studied Sundowns well and I know how they play. They like to attack.”

A two-time league winner with unfashionable sides in his homeland, Antipas has been there, done that.

Last season, Antipas’s Chicken Inn were taken lightly, only to snatch the title from under the noses of seasoned sides like Caps United, Dynamos and Highlanders.

Four years earlier, he helped another unfancied outfit, Motor Action to the title.

“I know we are treated as underdogs. We will surprise Sundowns by beating them at home. We can do it,” declares Antipas.

The visitors will be relying on the experience of captain Danisa Phiri and the skilful Edmore Chirambadare and former Zimbabwe footballer of the year Clemence Matawu.

Striker Obadiah Tarumbwa is familiar with the capital city having played at University of Pretoria previously.

Nevertheless, Downs goalkeeper Dennis Onyango, insists his side is not chickening out of the challenge at hand.

The team will again be banking on the formidable attacking “CBD” trio of Leonardo Castro, Khama Billiat and Keegan Dolly.

“It was not good that we lost in Zimbabwe. They caught us on a counter attack because they were sitting back while we were attacking. It’s not
over yet.

“We want to win against Chicken Inn,” says the Ugandan.