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Chicken Inn will be hoping to return to winning ways when they host Ngezi Platinum Stars in a highly anticipated ZIFA Munhumutapa Challenge Cup clash at Luveve Stadium on Sunday.
The match, scheduled for a 3PM kick-off, will be broadcast live on ZBC, giving football supporters across Zimbabwe an opportunity to follow what promises to be an exciting knockout encounter.
The Gamecocks enter the fixture looking to bounce back after their impressive winning run was brought to an end by Bulawayo Chiefs in the Castle Lager Premier Soccer League. Chicken Inn had collected three consecutive victories before suffering a 2-1 defeat against their city rivals on August 1.
The defeat ended a positive phase for the Bulawayo side, and head coach admitted that his players must improve their mentality and approach as they prepare for another demanding fixture against Ngezi Platinum Stars.
“We have another tough fixture in the Munhumutapa Cup. We are playing Ngezi Platinum Stars on Sunday, a very difficult side, but we have to improve. We have to change our mentality. We have to do better than what we did today,” he said.
The coach highlighted the importance of desire and commitment, saying the team must show more hunger if they are to overcome one of the strongest sides in the country.
“We have to have the will. The will was not there today. If we want it, then anything can happen, but when we look uninterested, it becomes difficult.”
With only the remaining days before the cup tie, Chicken Inn’s focus will be on regrouping, correcting their mistakes and restoring the confidence they showed during their recent run of victories.
The coach knows the challenge waiting for them at Luveve but believes his players must embrace difficult matches if they want to compete at the highest level.
“It’s a very difficult fixture, I must admit, but we have to prepare for it. It’s a team that is playing well, and we have been doing well. If you really want to be the best, you have to beat the best. It’s as simple as that.”
The clash will be part of the historic first edition of the ZIFA Munhumutapa Challenge Cup, Zimbabwe’s new flagship knockout tournament aimed at bringing together teams from all levels of the football pyramid while creating more opportunities for clubs and players across the country.
The tournament carries a sponsorship package of US$25 million spread over five years, with US$5 million invested into the competition every season.
The Munhumutapa Challenge Cup features teams from across Zimbabwe’s football structures, including Premier Soccer League clubs, lower division teams and grassroots sides, creating an FA Cup-style competition where clubs from different levels can compete against each other.
The winners of the tournament will receive US$1 million in prize money, with the champions also earning a place in the CAF Confederation Cup.
For Chicken Inn, the competition provides an opportunity to compete for one of the biggest prizes in Zimbabwean football and create history in the first edition of the tournament.
Sunday’s clash will not be unfamiliar territory for both sides, as Chicken Inn and Ngezi Platinum Stars have already met twice in the league this season. Their first encounter ended in a goalless draw before Ngezi claimed a 3-2 victory in the second round.
The overall head-to-head record between the two teams shows how competitive the fixture has been. In 18 meetings, Ngezi Platinum Stars have won seven times, Chicken Inn have recorded five victories, while six matches have ended in draws.
Chicken Inn come into the cup tie with three wins and two defeats from their last five matches. Their recent victories came against TelOne, FC Hunters and Manica Diamonds, while their defeats were against Ngezi Platinum Stars and Bulawayo Chiefs.
Ngezi Platinum Stars arrive at Luveve Stadium with confidence after a solid run of form in the league. The Mhondoro-based side has recorded two wins, two draws and one defeat in their last five matches, showing why they remain one of the most competitive teams in the country. Sunday’s encounter will be their opening fixture in the inaugural Munhumutapa Challenge Cup, as they begin their campaign against Chicken Inn in what promises to be a tough knockout battle.
In the Castle Lager Premier Soccer League standings, Chicken Inn are currently 10th with 33 points from 25 matches, while Ngezi Platinum Stars sit fifth with 44 points after 26 games.
Despite the difference in league positions, cup football often produces surprises, and Chicken Inn will believe their home advantage can help them overcome a strong Ngezi side.
The Gamecocks will need to show the determination that helped them collect important victories in recent weeks, while Ngezi will be aiming to continue their good form and move closer to lifting the historic Munhumutapa Challenge Cup.
With both teams chasing progression, supporters can expect a competitive battle at Luveve Stadium as Chicken Inn and Ngezi Platinum Stars fight for a place in the next round of Zimbabwe’s newest football competition.
Source: CIFC Media Team