The Sunday News
INJURY-hit Bulawayo Premier Soccer League clubs Highlanders and How Mine meet in a Chibuku Super Cup first round contest at Barbourfields Stadium this afternoon.
The Chibuku Super Cup is the most lucrative domestic knockout competition with $75 000 guaranteed for the winners, the added benefit being representing Zimbabwe in the Caf Confederation Cup.
At a Press briefing on Thursday Highlanders coach Bongani Mafu disclosed that Obadiah Tarumbwa, Erick Mudzingwa, Douglas Sibanda and Knox Mutizwa were out due to illness as well as injury.
Sibanda, a utility player capable of playing in either the defence or as a defensive midfielder fell sick on the eve of the Zimbabwe National Army Commander’s Charity Shield final against Dynamos last Sunday.
Defender Mudzingwa and Tarumbwa got injured during the same match while Mutizwa is carrying an ankle injury sustained in South Africa in an Under-23 2016 Olympic qualifier.
The four join on the sidelines striker Gabriel Nyoni and midfielder Mthulisi Maphosa. Nyoni has been out with a hamstring problem for months now and while he is back at training, Mafu seems not keen on taking a risk by fielding him. Maphosa is likely to be out of action after he picked up an injury on the same knee in a league match against Dynamos that got hurt earlier on in the season against Hwange. With all these key players out injured, Mafu, however, believes Highlanders have a huge task in trying to beat How Mine and progress to the quarter-finals of the competition.
“We have done the best we can, we are not making any excuses for the result. It is a tough game we need to win, we have been working hard to come up with the right combinations, we have to punch above our weight since How Mine are on top of us on the log,’’ Mafu said.
Highlanders got a huge physchological boost with a 1-0 triumph over fierce rivals Dynamos to lift the ZNA Charity Shield, their first win over DeMbare since 2011 when they beat them on penalties in the Independence Cup final.
Njabulo Nyoni appears to have secured his place as the first choice goalkeeper ahead of Ariel Sibanda seeing that he has been in goals for four consecutive matches and having kept a clean sheet against Dynamos last Sunday, he is sure to be the first name on the Highlanders team list. Honest Moyo, Felix Chindungwe, Bruce Kangwa, Webster Chingodza and Peter Muduhwa are fighting to make up the defence.
King Nadolo, a player blessed with natural ball artistry is the man to watch out for in the Bosso midfield where Simon Munawa, Edmore Muzanenhamo, Tendai Ngulube, Godfrey Makaruse and Rahman Kutsanzira are the candidates to partner him.
With Mafu’s latest trusted combination upfront of Mutizwa and Tarumbwa not available, giant striker Obert “Adebayor” Tafira could start with another latest acquisition Thembinkosi Simango as his partner.
How Mine coach Luke Masomere last Friday revealed that his club was also not spared from injuries. According to Masomere, Benjamin Marere, Mgcini Sibanda and Morris Kadzola are out while Menard Mupera, Nelson Tachi and Timothy January could play a part even though they are not fully fit. Masomere described the encounter against Highlanders as a massive one since they were taking on a big team.
“It is a big game, when you play a big team the match is called a big match so we are playing an in-form Highlanders on Sunday, we have prepared well for this encounter. It is a pity we only have 23 registered players at How Mine, we failed to sign on some players during the window period, out of those 23, five are injured, I am happy that I managed to come up with a team of 18 players,’’ Masomere said.
The situation at How Mine has not been helped by the departure of Limited Chikafa who has gone back to his old club ZPC Kariba and the non-availability of forward Charles Sibanda, ruled out for the rest of the season by injuries sustained in a car accident. Masomere also disclosed that young striker Adolf Muganyi is the only fit forward available on the bench for Chikurupati.
Masomere can at least count on Kudakwashe Musharu, Godfrey Nguwodzawo, a fit again Tawanda Muparati, Louis Matawu, Gilbert Banda, Tapiwa Kumbuyani and Thembani Masuku.
Ex-Highlanders goalkeeper Munyaradzi Diya has to fight off the challenge of Donovan Bernard for a place in between the posts.
Last season, Highlanders had a fine run in the Chibuku Super Cup, seeing off Shabanie Mine 1-0 in the first round at Gweru’s Ascot Stadium, trounced How Mine 3-1 at Hartsfield Rugby Ground in the quarter-finals before they were stopped by Harare City who thumped them 3-0 at Rufaro Stadium in the semi-finals. How Mine had booked their place in the last eight courtesy of a 1-0 victory over city rivals Chicken Inn at Mandava Stadium in Zvishavane.
Highlanders and How Mine have this season met twice at Barbourfields, firstly in the semi-finals of the ZNA Charity Shield in March, won 1-0 by Highlanders before they played out a 1-1 draw in a league encounter in June.
In the other first round matches set for this afternoon, Caps United go up against ZPC Kariba with Triangle and Tsholotsho rounding off the fixtures when they meet at Gibbo Stadium.
