Gaki impresses Antipas
DURING the July transfer window, Malvin Gaki was one of the players that were on their way out at Chicken Inn due to lack of game time.
Yet, the midfielder’s recent performances are likely to see him stay at the club.
Gaki has failed to command a starting eleven place this season and has been reduced to playing cameo roles for the club.
THE quest for a return to top-flight for former football giants Zimbabwe Saints FC has hit another brick wall, as Chikwata are one of the four teams to be relegated from the Zifa Southern Region Division One League this season.
With one game to the season’s end, Chauya Chikwata are good as “Chaenda Chikwata” since they are third from bottom and can no longer move outside the relegation slot.
Other teams that are already relegated are Qualify Foods as well as the now defunct Indosakusa.
The defunct Indosakusa anchor the log table,
However, Joey Antipas has been chopping and changing his starting 11 ever since he conceded that his side was out of the title race.
One of the beneficiaries of that move by Antipas has been Gaki, who has grabbed the opportunity.
Gaki scored a brace and provided an assist last Saturday as Chicken Inn beat Bulawayo City at Barbourfields Stadium.
His man of the match performance impressed coach Antipas who feels he has done enough to win a starting slot. while Quality Foods are second from bottom with 24 points. The team has not fulfilled two previous encounters with the sponsors believed to have pulled out.
Ajax, CIWU and Emakhandeni are tied on 32 points. One of the three teams will be condemned down to Division Two. Ajax have a date with Arenel Movers, Emakhandeni host Hwange while CIWU host Mosi Rovers.
The fall of Saints, however, carries more significance as the team was on a revival path that had them wanting to bounce back to topflight football league. However, one of the country’s oldest football clubs has taken a further step back.
In a bid to reclaim the side’s former glory, Australia-based Adrian Mtungwazi injected
“He had an opportunity to start and he was impressed by his headaches for the next game,” said Antipas.
Malvin Whata got the other goal for Chicken Inn after being fed by Gaki, with the Gamecocks marching to a third consecutive win.
Gaki is a former Triangle and Harare City player. He has worked with coaches like Moses Chunga and Mark Harrison.
He is likely to get an opportunity when Chicken Inn face Highlanders this coming Sunday.
US$30 000 into the club as well as paying winning bonuses for the team, mid-way into the season.
With the financial boost, Chauya Chikwata roped in Mark Mathe to revive the once revered giant of local football.
That, however, has proved not to be enough to motivate the team to win.
Mtungwazi also bought two housing stands for the club.
At the time of the injection, Zimbabwe Saints board of trustees Vincent Pamire remarked “Our sponsor has said he wants the team to play in the Premier League and that is what we are pushing for.”
It is now clear that a return to the PSL is now a far-fetched dream since Chikwata have to start afresh in Division Two.
Second-placed Chicken Inn victory saw them maintain a 10-point difference with leaders FC Platinum who need six points from five games to wrap up the championship. The Gamecocks are on 54 points after 29 games.
Antipas has already given the title to FC Platinum.
“We have to be honest. FC Platinum will not lose games,” said Antipas.
On Sunday, Mapeza refused to be drawn into making comments about the league title.
“Not yet! Maybe for you guys, but for me it’s a no! It is still work in progress. There are still five games to go and we are not thinking much about our position on the log now. We are thinking much about maintaining our rhythm and keep getting positive results,” Mapeza said. — @innocentskizoe
Chauya Chikwata, relegated from the Premier League in 2011, were thrown out of Division One in 2014 for failing to pay $2 500 in affiliation fees.
They were on the sidelines before registering in the Zifa Bulawayo Province Division Two League in 2015, when they finished 13th.
Zimbabwe Saints’ manoeuvres to play in Division One in 2016 hit a brick wall after they failed to raise funds to acquire the Quelaton franchise, which had been surrendered by Nust.
Chikwata last played in the Premier Soccer League in 2011 after they had bought Chitungwiza-based Eagles’ franchise at the behest of businessman Felix Dzumbunu following their relegation to the lower league in 2006. — @innocentskizoe