Online Reporter
Sports Reporter
STUTTERING Bulawayo giants Highlanders have a psychological boost ahead of their visit to the Baobab Stadium for a date with former champions, Ngezi Platinum in a Castle Lager Premier Soccer League match on Easter Monday.
This followed confirmation by the Premier Soccer League that former Bulawayo Chiefs striker, Obriel Chirinda will miss the game after accumulating three yellow cards in the opening six matches of the season.
Chirinda has always caused problems for Highlanders and they, at one stage in 2023, tried to acquire him from their neighbours Chiefs during the days of Portuguese coach, Britto Baltemar.
Chirinda is one of four players who are suspended for the Matchday 7 matches together with Butholezwe Ncube of Simba Bhora, Arnold Mawadza of Triangle and Mbongei Ndlovu of FC Platinum.
Midfielder Ncube will miss Simba Bhora’s visit to Chicken Inn for the Easter Monday clash at Luveve while captain Mbongeni “Mbola” Ndlovu will be excused from FC Platinum’s trip to Rufaro for a date with newcomers Scottland.
Chirinda currently has one goal for Ngezi Platinum but is always a handful for defenders in the matches he has featured.
Ndlovu has been part of the FC Platinum defence that has kept five clean sheets in their opening six matches and share the Castle Lager Premiership best defensive record together with newcomers and pacesetters, MWOS with one goal conceded each.
A former Highlanders player, Ndlovu has been key to coach Norman Mapeza’s rebuilding exercise and would have been expected to lead the way in Monday’s clash against star-studded Scottland at Rufaro.
Ncube, who was previously in South Africa, has been part of an exciting youthful squad assembled by Joel Luphahla at defending Premiership champions, Simba Bhora.
Leading Scorers
Washington Navaya TelOne 5
Ronald Chitiyo Greenfuel 3
Brighton Ncube Highlanders 3
Billy Vheremu MWOS 3
Isakar Gurirab Simba Bhora 3
Mustafa Francis Yadah 3
Charles Munyanyi ZPC Kariba 3
