The Sunday News
Ngqwele Dube, Sports Correspondent
HIGHLANDERS coach, Madinda Ndlovu believes the continued absence of playmaker, Nigel Makumbe is having a negative impact in their performance, saying the player had become influential in the team.
Ndlovu revealed Makumbe is still out with an ankle injury and the club’s doctors have decided to put him in a plaster and then monitor the healing progress, meaning he will be absent from Sunday’s prolific match against Caps United at Barbourfields Stadium.
Khathazile, as Ndlovu, is popularly known said Nigel has been their main player, playing an influential role in their early success.
“Makumbe’s abilities and his type of play is very attractive. His play is productive and influential in the outcome of games hence his absence is a big blow,” he said.
Makumbe had been expected to make a return from injury last week but he aggravated his ankle injury during a collision during training last Thursday as they prepared for Match Day 11.
The midfielder, who is on loan from FC Platinum, had a blistering start to the season providing assist for Bosso’s first four goals. He was largely influential in the creation of opportunities with his dribbling wizardry, ability to penetrate defence, pinpoint corner kicks and intelligent passes making him a vital cog in Bosso’s play.
While Ndlovu downplayed that the team cannot perform with Makumbe, in his absence Bosso has lost two matches, against Ngezi and ZPC Kariba, drew with Yadah and they managed a lacklustre 1-0 win against Mutare City.
During the period Bosso was hit by a spate of injuries that saw several key players being sidelined among them strikers, Gabriel Nyoni, Godfrey Makaruse, Tendai Ndlovu, Bukhosi Ncube and defensive midfielder, Patrick Musaka and forward Ozias Zibande.
Nyoni and Makaruse made a return last week while Zibande was back in the fold two weeks back.
Speaking during the club’s weekly press conference, Khathazile said Tendai Ndlovu, Ncube and Musaka are back at training but they would have to go under late fitness tests to assess their readiness to resume playing.
