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Grace Chingoma Senior Sports Reporter
CHAMPIONS Chicken Inn returned home yesterday from their tour of duty in Zambia and called off their friendly match against Confederation Cup representatives Harare City, which was scheduled for tomorrow at Luveve.

The Gamecocks cited fatigue following a road trip from Ndola, where they featured in three matches.

The Champions League participants have been in Zambia for the last 10 days in preparation for their preliminary round, first leg tie against high-flying South Africa side Mamelodi Sundowns.

And the club had organised a friendly match against Harare City this weekend in Bulawayo but yesterday coach Joey Antipas said they can no longer fulfil the match.

“We are still on our way home and we have just entered the country from the border post. The players are really tired.

“It is too taxing for us to play another friendly match this weekend. We travelled a long distance by bus from Bulawayo to Ndola and back. We played three games so, coupled with travelling to and fro, fatigue is creeping in and we need to rest. We will resume training on Monday and get into full gear before hosting Sundowns,” said Antipas.

The former Motor Action coach said the practice matches in Ndola were crucial in assessing the team before they compete in the African safari.

“It was a good tour. We played some strong teams which were prepared for the matches. It was an eye-opener because it was the first time for our team to travel outside the country. Our weaknesses were exposed in these matches but generally we played good football. Our grey area was lack of match fitness and we also didn’t combine well in defence,” said Antipas.

The champions are now looking forward to improve on the areas which were lacking in Zambia. In their opening match, the Gamecocks drew with Zanaco, who are playing in the Confederation Cup, and will meet the winner between Harare City and AS Adema of Madagascar in the first round.

The Bulawayo side then battled Tanzanian side Azam, who are also in the Champions League.

Chicken Inn lost the match 1-3.

The team wound up their tour with a clash against Zambian champions ZESCO but again a victory eluded them as they lost 0-2 to the hosts.

However, Antipas said there is still time to correct some of the mistakes he observed as he kept changing his players while trying some new combinations.

And the gaffer believes his campaign has also been affected by a number of injuries to his key players.

As the champions return home, they will next week reunite with some of their players who remained behind nursing injuries. Skipper Danny Phiri, Clement Matawu, Elvis Chipezeze and Lawrence Mhlanga were not part of the traveling party as they remained behind nursing some injuries.

“They will join us on Monday and we will assess them but I doubt that they will be part of in the first leg against Mamelodi Sundowns,” said Antipas.

“The injuries are a cause for concern for us as players like Danny and Clement are senior players with a lot of experience. But we just have to work with what we have.

“These players are the most experienced and they are our key players,” said Antipas.

The club has boosted their squad with the arrival of the former Highlanders duo of Obadiah Tarumbwa and defender Teenage Hadebe.

Tarumbwa was part of the touring team in Zambia but Hadebe did not make the trip because of injury.

Forwards Moses Demera and Physwell Madhazi are also the other new signings at the club.

And Antipas said he was impressed by the new players’ performance.

Meanwhile, Harare City will play a practice match against Premiership newboys Bulawayo City.

Harare City coach Taurai Mangwiro said they had hoped to play the champions to prepare for the CAF Confederation Cup preliminary round first leg tie against AS Adema of Madagascar.

“We will play the newcomers and I am sure they will give us good competition. Unfortunately, we haven’t played an international friendly but all the same these preparations will go a long way in helping us prepare for the Confederation Cup,” said Mangwiro.