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Lawrence Moyo
REIGNING Castle Lager Fans Choice Player of the Year Khama Billiat has recovered from injury and is set to face CAPS United on Sunday.
The potential Castle Lager Premier Soccer League thriller is at Rufaro in what is easily the game of the weekend if the focus on the streets and social media is anything to go by.
Billiat, who missed both league matches against CAPS United while at Yadah last season, has returned to training after missing the season opener against Triangle.
Scottland coach Tonderai Ndiraya said yesterday he now has most of his players available for selection as he still searches for combinations after assembling a team of stars during the off season.
Billiat leads the list of stars now at Scottland, including Soccer Star of the Year Walter Musona, Golden Boot winner and Soccer Star of the Year first runner-up, Lynoth Chikuhwa.
Former CAPS United duo of midfielder Kingsley Mureremba and defender Godknows Murwira and fellow Soccer Star of the Year finalist Vassili Kawe are also part of the mix.
Mureremba will, however, not be available for the match against his former teammates on Sunday as he is battling injury.
Ndiraya said yesterday Billiat is among the players who are available, having missed the opener against Triangle last week.
“Khama Billiat hasn’t been too well, but I am glad that he is back in training with the team, and he is also a strong contender for a place in the team for Sunday.
“We also have Mthokozisi Msebe, who was injured; he is also back in training. Marvelous Chigumira is back in training as well. The only casualty is Kingsley Mureremba, whom we expect to be back in a few weeks. He has started light training, and we are monitoring his progress.
“We are so excited that almost everyone is available for selection, and we are spoilt for choices in terms of team selection.”
Looking at the game on Sunday, the reigning Coach of the Year said they are not treating it as a special clash.
“This is the beginning of the league (season), and, if you ask me, football hasn’t really started. So I don’t know where the excitement is coming from.
“In any case, I don’t know if this really is the headline game of the weekend. Why not Herentals and Dynamos? To us, it’s just a normal fixture. In fact, we are playing against a big team, a big team with a lot of history.
“Scottland played its first ever (Premier Soccer League) match last weekend, meaning that they are the youngest in the league if you want to compare all the teams in the league.”
Ndiraya acknowledges the pressure that they face and attributes it to the depth of the squad assembled.
“I think the issue here is about the investment that Scottland, or the owner of the team, has put in. But does that make Scottland a big team?
“It’s a question for another day, but Scottland is a very small team in the league, a team that brought a number of stars to start their campaign on a very strong footing.
“And if you ask me, we did that last weekend. What we wanted was a good result; we got three points, and we move on.
“We are looking forward to the next game,” said Ndiraya.
Online Reporter