Buffaloes step up new season preparations
MUTARE – Buffaloes coach, Saul Chaminuka, is yearning for friendly matches against the big three — Dynamos, Highlanders and CAPS United — as he oils his machinery ahead of the 2013 Castle Lager Premiership season.
Watungwa Watungwa started their preseason preparations a fortnight ago and are already looking ahead to start engaging fellow Premiership teams in friendly matches starting next weekend.
To their credit, Buffaloes have managed to tie down most of their key players, save for diminutive winger, Phineas Bhamusi who is now with Harare City and fringe defender, Philip Chandisaita, thanks to the Mbada Diamonds donation which ensured that players’ welfare is, at least, well catered for.
Chandisaita is understood to be training with Motor Action in Harare. Chaminuka expressed satisfaction with his team’s preparations and confirmed that they were eager to start having friendly matches with formidable opponents in the top-flight league.
“So far so good, we cannot complain. We are going ahead with our preparations and by next weekend, it will be three weeks of serious preparations. Therefore, we are hoping to start having friendly matches with formidable opponents in the Premiership.
“If things go according to plan, I look forward to play Dynamos, Highlanders and CAPS United before the season starts. They will give us the true picture of our strengths and weaknesses before the season starts.
“However, that does not mean we are closing the door for other prospective friendly matches. We are also eager to engage new teams in the league like Triangle, Triple B and fellow soldiers, Black Rhinos. I believe that if we manage to have all these friendly matches before the season starts, we will have a true picture of our abilities,” Chaminuka said.
He added that they are already tying the loose ends and will soon have their final squad of 30 players by the end of next week.
“I think we should be able to finalise on our trials by the end of this week and we will be in a position to announce our final squad by the end of next week. We have had overwhelming response from players that are eager to join us and I can say there are a number of talented players among them whom we will seriously consider giving a chance,” Chaminuka added.
Watungwa Watungwa were the best performing new comers last season as they managed a top six finish against all odds and beyond the expectations of many neutrals, most of whom took the Mutare side for mere relegation candidates.
Refreshingly for the Mutare army side, their dependable defender and last season’s player of the year, Themba Ndlovu and top goal scorer, Prosper “Zhake” Matizanadzo are back in camp. The two were missing in action when the army side started their preseason training sessions at the Show Society ground.
Last year, Matizanadzo, who ended up the teams’ top goal scorer, took the responsibility of scoring crucial goals although he later struggled with a nagging knee injury.
The lanky former CPMZ and Eastern Lions player also received a national team call up from Rahman Gumbo, but could not make it in the final squad that played against Angola in Luanda.
