Former champions Chicken Inn on a training blitz ahead of new season
Story by Grace Sibanda
FORMER Premier Soccer League champions Chicken Inn FC are on an intensive training programme as they seek to mount a title challenge ahead of the 2024 season which kicks off on the 24th of this month.
The Gamecocks finished last season a distant seventh place, 17 points adrift of the championship and are on a drive to address the problem areas.
The Bulawayo-based club has signed attacking midfielder Elshaamar Farasi who was at Highlanders last season, former Bulawayo Chiefs goalkeeper Isaac Ali and left-back Brandon Mpofu from Dynamos.
The club has also had movements within the technical team, with championship-winning coach Joey Antipas regaining the reigns at the club, after being elevated to technical director last season and will be assisted by Fungai Tostao Kwashi, who has left CAPS United.
“Preparations are still underway and we will know the full team once we have registered our players. For now, we are training some incoming players along with the players from the last season and I am pleased to say the calibre of players here is good and we can work with what we have. We are eyeing the top spot and we hope that this season brings out the best in us with the experience of Joey Antipas,” said Fungai.
The Gamecocks have managed to retain the services of most of last season’s players such as goalkeepers Donovan Bernard and Pride Zander, defender Dominic Jaricha, versatile Brian Muza as well as club Captain Xolani Ndlovu.
They have, however, lost combative midfielder Richard Hachiro who is now with Ngezi Platinum Stars.
