admin
Sikhumbuzo Moyo in BULAWAYO
HIGHLANDERS’ bad boy Charles Sibanda will not be part of the squad to face Hwange in a Castle Lager Premiership tie at the Colliery this afternoon. While caretaker coach Mark Mathe refused to confirm his final team, that will do duty this afternoon, sources confirmed that Sibanda did not travel with the rest of the players yesterday morning ahead of the duel this afternoon.
“He is not part of the team that went to Hwange,” said a close friend.
The unregulated social media was awash yesterday with reports that Sibanda’s contract had been terminated by Bosso, although authorities at the club said this was not the case.
It was not immediately clear whether the move was part of disciplinary measures that the club has taken against the player after his questionable behaviour in the 0-1 loss to Chicken Inn at Hartsfield on Sunday.
Sibanda went straight to the dressing room after being substituted in the 53rd minute for Knox Mutizwa.
Club chairman Peter Dube on Monday told Chronicle Sport that they would issue a public statement on the decision taken on the player after their meeting with the technical team on Monday.
Bosso, winless in their last five league matches and with just two league wins in the second half of the season, are going through their worst run in recent years.
This afternoon, they come up against a Hwange side which drew 0-0 on the road at Black Rhinos last Saturday, while Tshilamoya fell at home to Chicken Inn.
Mathe acknowledges that it’s going to be a tough game for them, but they were prepared for a fight.
“Hwange are a formidable side, they are on a high after a good show on the road while we have not been producing expected results but undermining us will be suicidal.
“We need to redeem ourselves by collecting our first set of three points,” said Mathe, appointed acting head coach following the departure of Kelvin Kaindu who is now at Triangle.
Hwange coach Nation Dube refused to read a lot into the problems bedevilling their opponents and urged his men to just concentrate on their game plan.
“Like it or not, Highlanders is a big institution that can rise anytime and if we undermine them, because they are going through temporary problems, then we might be in for a rude awakening.
“I told my boys to prepare for total war and not to relax,” said Dube.
Dube said the fact that Highlanders have been conceding fewer goals was testimony enough that they were working on their shortcomings and very soon, they might get back their rhythm.
Former Highlanders coach Kaindu has been roped in as technical adviser at Triangle, who face Chicken Inn at Hartsfield, although it was not yet clear yesterday whether his work permit allows him to just switch jobs.
Foreigners, especially those in the sporting sector, are usually given work permits related to a particular job.
Online Reporter