adminThe former champions convincingly beat Blue Rangers 4-0 at Barbourfields Stadium courtesy of beautiful goals from new acquisition Milton Ncube who scored a hat-trick and their junior product Ozias Zibande.
Mambare and Chikaka watched the match from the terraces as they were waiting for clearances to secure licences from the Castle Lager Premier Soccer League.
Motor Action were holding onto Mambare’s clearance while Chikaka was waiting for a reverse international transfer clearance from the Botswana Football Association.
The availability of the two offensive players for Highlanders’ home game against league debutants Hardbody means that the Bosso coach Kelvin Kaindu has a wider pool to select his final 18 from.
Securing licences for the duo means that Highlanders’ attacking options have been increased as Mambare, will be competing for a starting place with Heritani Masuku and young Arnold Ndiweni.
Highlanders’ secretary Andrew Tapela yesterday said they had received Mambare and Chikaka’s licences and it was up to the players to impress the coach.
“We are pleased to inform our supporters that we have managed to get licences for Mambare and Chikaka after finalising the paperwork. This means that of the 30 players that we had submitted to the PSL, only defender Dumisani ‘Fazo’ Ndlovu is yet to get his clearance. There are a few things that we need to finalise with Bantu Rovers and once their officials return from America, we hope to seal everything.
“We have done our part and whether the players will play on Sunday or not, the decision lies with the coach,” Tapela said.
In the match against Blue Rangers Kaindu gambled by playing Peter “Rio” Moyo on the right wing of the midfield but the player is more comfortable and effective if he is at the centre.
Reigning club top goalscorer Graham Ncube played as a lone striker against Rangers and with Chikaka around, Kaindu might opt to use the former Zimbabwe Saints and Botswana’s Tafic FC forward as the target man.
However, Mambare and Chikaka will have to work hard to make it to the first team as all the players that played in the match against Blue Rangers showed that they are determined to keep their first team places.
Moyo, a new signing from Quelaton, ex-FC Windermere, Shooting Stars and Motor Action striker Ncube, Bhekimpilo Ncube on loan from FC Platinum, defensive midfielder Mthulisi Maphosa and Atlast Musasa formerly with Black Mambas were in top form against Blue Rangers.
They adapted well to Kaindu’s system with Milton and Maphosa winning the hearts of the Highlanders’ faithfuls.
The turnout for the Hardbody game at Barbourfields Stadium on Sunday is likely to improve as some of the fans who stayed out for the season’s opener will want to see the team that scored the most goals in the opening weekend.
The Tavaka Gumbo-coached Hardbody on the other hand will be hoping to collect their first point after losing all their two league matches 3-0 away to Dynamos and 1-0 at home to Black Mambas.
Week three fixtures
Dynamos v Monomotapa, Black Mambas v Buffaloes, Highlanders v Hardbody, Chicken Inn v Quelaton, Shabanie Mine v Blue Rangers, Motor Action v Caps United, Hwange v FC Platinum, Harare City v Gunners.
Online Reporter