By Eddie Chikamhi
CAPS UNITED will bank on the return of highly-rated Zimbabwe international striker Simba Sithole to provide the goals when they take on Bulawayo giants Highlanders in a Castle Lager Premiership tie at Barbourfields.
The Green Machine, who drew 2-2 with FC Platinum last week, will welcome back strikers Sithole and Evans Gwekwerere who missed the encounter.
The 19-year-old Sithole, who was on trials in South Africa when Makepekepe drew against FC Platinum, comes back into the team boosted by his call into the Warriors’ team preparing for the 2012 Nations Cup qualifier against Mali.
He was the only locally-based striker drafted into the squad showing just how much his stock has risen this season in which he has also starred for the Young Warriors. Sithole has already taken his goal tally, for club and country, into double figures this year. CAPS United mentor Moses Chunga said he has a full squad at his disposal and will be hoping for positive results.
“Everyone is up and running and we will field the best XI. No player is guaranteed a permanent place because there is no room for special preference in our system. We have 25 players in our squad and if a player proves he can do the job then we will give him the opportunity,” said Chunga. The CAPS gaffer has numerous options and has rotated his players depending on form and fitness.
They dropped four points in their last two matches and hope to bounce back to winning ways. Their opponents Highlanders hope to use home advantage to recover from the 2-1 defeat they suffered at the hands of Premiership newboys Blue Ribbon last week. Bosso, however, will miss the services of Premiership joint top goal scorer Njabulo Ncube who was shown a red card last week.
Ncube is tied on five goals with CAPS’ young sensation Sithole who scored all the goals in the first three matches of the season. But Highlanders’ Ncube suffered a double tragedy after losing his mother during the midweek. The onus will be heavy on the shoulders of former CAPS striker Vincent Nzombe who endured a rough time at the Green last season.
Nzombe was handed a new lease of life at Bosso and has found the target once this season after scoring in the 1-0 win over Shooting Stars last month. But much will be expected from their influential midfield where Young Warriors attacking midfielder Misheck Mburayi, Erick Mudzingwa, Louis Matawu and Rahman Kutsanzira have been doing well.
Bosso will have to do without one of their experienced defenders Gift Lunga who pulled a muscle while Graham Ncube also miss the match because of a groin injury. “It’s always interesting every time when we play CAPS United. It must be a tough match but we are looking forward to it.
“We don’t have any pressure and we haven’t experienced any in all our matches because we take each game as it comes. We just have to keep improving our game,” said Masuku.
CAPS and Highlanders, who are fifth and sixth in the table, are tied on 14 points but the Green Machine enjoy a slight advantage in terms of goal difference.
Goals, goals, goals or, maybe, the lack of them? This is what Gunners and Dynamos have been talking about this week ahead of their Castle Lager Premier Soccer League match at Rufaro tomorrow. However, the two clubs’ forwardline has not fired in the first quarter of the season.
The two sides have a combined total of 15 goals, three less than fifth-placed CAPS’ United. The goals have been elusive but after getting a glut in the 3-0 win over FC Platinum during the midweek, Gunners coach Darlington Dodo thinks Chando Kupisa could have finally made the breakthrough and are now geared up for more challenges. Dodo sounded upbeat yesterday and said he had never doubted his charges despite going for the first seven games without a victory.
“We have been playing well and it was just unfortunate that we were not scoring goals. I wasn’t even surprised when we beat FC Platinum 3-0 away. But now we have a different challenge altogether against Dynamos. This is a different ball game and we cannot continue to rely on what happened in our previous games. Matches against Dynamos are always difficult and we have to brace ourselves for it,” said Dodo.
Gunners are currently second from bottom with six points from eight games. Dodo said the 2008 champions seem to be getting things right after collecting four points from their last two matches. Before the trip to Zvishavane they had drawn 1-1 against Monomotapa at La Farge last Saturday.
“The positive thing is that at least we are now scoring and it bodes well in terms of confidence ahead of this big game. But we still trying to polish up our attack and we hope to continue from where we left off in Zvishavane so that we move out of the bottom of the table. As I have said before, we don’t belong where we are right now,” said Dodo.
He said they were ready for the game even without their key players Qadr Amini and former DeMbare midfielder Ashley Rambanapasi who had gone for trials in South Africa. Defender Richard Khola is still out with injury and Gunners were dealt a further blow by the suspension of experienced centreback David Sengu who is one of the nine players sanctioned by the Premier Soccer League this weekend after accruing three yellow cards in previous matches.
They hope Under-23 trialist Cliff Sekete, who scored a brace in Zvishavane, will continue with his good form while Ishmael Lawe is out to score his third in as many games. While Gunners are coming from a good hunt in their previous game, DeMbare will be aiming for redemption after falling 1-0 to Zimbabwe Saints last week. Just like the Gunners gaffer, DeMbare coach Lloyd Mutasa said the Harare giants are looking for solutions to their problems in attack.
DeMbare have managed only eight goals in as many games this season. But after dedicating most of their time to the frontline this week, Mutasa yesterday said they are now looking forward to reaping the rewards. However, he would not underestimate the challenge posed by their opponents. “Gunners are a good side and they play beautiful football but we have prepared well for them. It’s rather unfortunate most of our players are still down with injuries but we have some good replacements.
“We have talked about goals not coming but this is one area we have been working on of late. Maybe on Sunday we should know how far we have gone in,” said Mutasa. DeMbare will be without rightback David Kutyauripo through suspension while Thomas Magorimbo, Guthrie Zhokinyi and Milton Makopa are still nursing injuries. “Guthrie had started light training but he only did it for two days and, unfortunately, he aggravated the injury and is out now.
“Desmond (Maringwa) is recovering well and could be considered for selection depending on his condition,” said Mutasa.
But Denver Mukamba and Murape Murape, who were not available for selection in DeMbare’s defeat to Zimbabwe Saints, are back in the fold. Much will be expected from the strikers Roderick Mutuma, Patrick Kumbula and Martin Vengesai who lead the DeMbare attack. The club is currently on eighth place on the table after amassing 11 points in eight games. They have won three, drawn two and lost three matches in the campaign.
Defending champions Motor Action will host Premiership returnees Zimbabwe Saints at the Motor Action Sports Club this afternoon hoping to stretch their lead at the top of the table. Mighty Bulls coach Joey Antipas said they were concerned about the visitors who dismissed DeMbare 1-0 at Luveve last week.
Antipas said he was pleased by his side’s performance this season and is looking forward to the defence of their title.
“We have been doing well as a team but I am particularly impressed by our back four and goalkeeper because we have only conceded once in eight games.
“Morale is high and with everyone in good shape we are looking forward to something positive,” said Antipas. Motor Action will be without their top marksmen Edmore Chitato and Kuda Musharu who have gone for trials in South Africa while defensive linkman Edward Tembo has been sidelined by a knee injury.
Peter Ndlovu’s Black Mambas will face Kiglon at Gwanzura this afternoon. Mambas, who edged Hwange 1-0 in their last match, are currently fourth from the bottom of the table with seven points while their hosts Kiglon are only three places better with nine points.
Fixtures
Saturday: FC Platinum v Chicken Inn (Maglas Stadium), Kiglon v Black Mambas (Gwanzura), Monomotapa v Shabanie Mine (Rufaro), Motor Action v Zimbabwe Saints (Motor Action Sports Club)
Sunday: Hwange v Blue Ribbon (Colliery), Highlanders v Caps United (Barbourfields), Masvingo United v Shooting Stars (Mucheke), Dynamos v Gunners (Rufaro)
