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Joey Antipas

Grace Chingoma Senior Sports Reporter
CHICKEN Inn coach Joey Antipas has accused the Premier Soccer League of favouring the traditional giants after they refused to move today’s encounter against FC Platinum at Luveve to either tomorrow or Friday.

The match was postponed last weekend as the Gamecocks had four players in the national team involved in the final CHAN qualifier.

The club tried to have the match moved to either tomorrow or Friday as the players were yesterday still on their way to Bulawayo after they arrived in Harare on Monday night from Lesotho.

But the Premier Soccer League turned down that request, leaving a usually reserved Antipas crying foul, claiming that the playing field was not even.

“We are playing on an uneven playing field. The fact that we have been forced to play the game tomorrow (today), when our guys are still on their way from national duty, makes it difficult for us,” said Antipas.

“They (the players) haven’t arrived (in Bulawayo as yet) and I am not too sure what state they would be so that I can decide whether to use them or not and so I don’t know what to do.

“We had requested to play the match on a Thursday or Friday, but they (the PSL) refused and were adamant that the match should go on.

“But it is not like the match will be a counter-attraction to any game if we play it during any of these days.

“However, because it is Chicken Inn, a small team, they turned down our request. If it had been Dynamos or CAPS United they could have been accommodated. But there is nothing we can do and we will just have to go and play.”

Chicken Inn had four players in the national team — Warriors skipper Danny Phiri, goalkeeper Elvis Chipezeze, Edmore Chirambadare and Lawrence Mhlanga.

“It is a tough assignment because FC Platinum are on a roll, but you never know with football,” said Antipas.

“If we can get a positive result, hopefully a win, it would be great for us and it will give us a spring in our stride.

“But if we get a point that would be it as it will still be a good point.”

Antipas will miss midfielder Tafadzwa Kutinyu, who is in a plaster after he was injured while in action for the Warriors in the first leg of the CHAN tie against Lesotho, while Thabani Goredema is suspended for today’s match.

PSL chief executive Kenny Ndebele was unapologetic and said the game has to go ahead according to schedule.

“We declined their request to move the match. Where we are at this stage of the season, we need to ensure that we stick to the programme as released,” said Ndebele.

“We also got a similar request from Chapungu, who wanted to play on weekend, where we have a Cup final as well as Highlanders who also have players in the national team.

“But we confirmed with ZIFA and they said all the players should be in the country on Monday. There are many ways to get to Bulawayo and the other one is a 35-minute flight.

“As far as we are concerned there was enough time for the players to move back to their bases.”

Interestingly, Chicken Inn took top goalscorer, Edmore Chirambadare, straight from the airport, after he had spent a week in South Africa having trials and fielded him in a league match against CAPS United that ended in a draw.

Fixtures

Today: Chicken Inn v FC Platinum (Luveve); Chapungu v Highlanders (Ascot).

Saturday: Chibuku Super Cup final: Dynamos v Harare City (National Sports Stadium).

Sunday: CAPS United v Triangle (National Sports Stadium).