Bosso’s lack of depth worries coach

HIGHLANDERS coach Kelvin Kaindu is worried about lack of depth in his side ahead of the city derby against Chicken Inn in a Castle Lager Premiership match at Barbourfields Stadium on Sunday.

Injuries and indiscipline appear also issues giving the Highlanders family goose bumps.

Ahead of the tie, Kaindu is under pressure to come up with a replacement for Peter Muduhwa who picked up a third yellow card in the match against Ngezi Platinum at Barbourfields two weeks ago.

Defender Andrew Mbeba has been out of the Bosso squad for some weeks after he did not turn up for training and was asked to present a doctor’s note if indeed he was sick or injured, a requirement for all players who skip practice.

On the issue of discipline, there have been worries on the conduct on and off the field. Muduhwa appears to have been stripped of the captaincy after pictures of him imbibing with a fellow teammate did rounds on social media.

Kaindu has been coy on details regarding Mbeba’s absence though, despite sources close to the player saying the Warriors international did not come for training for some days three weeks ago and had no plausible excuse hence the suspension.

Other players are said to have been suspended for the same offence earlier this year among them Calvin Chigonero.

Young Prince Ndlovu is said to have also been suspended by Kaindu earlier in the season for indiscipline.

However, Kaindu denied indiscipline exists in the team despite a number of his players sitting it out some matches after accumulating yellow cards, a number of them needless.

“No, there is no indiscipline in the team,” said Kaindu.

Kaindu said there are some injury concerns as they prepare for the derby and is worried by the lack of depth in his squad.

Despite the concerns, he said there are some recoveries from some of his key players who have been on the sidelines over the past couple of weeks.

“In terms of preparations, we have a bit of good and bad news. We still have our injured players who are still out. However, Marvin Sibanda and Godfrey Makaruse have resumed light training. During our last game we had Pitisi (Raphael) also getting injured. I cannot go much into detail over Faira but he will not be available for some time. In terms of depth, that gives us a disadvantage,” said Kaindu.

Kaindu is well aware of the fact that his team has not done well in derbies this season.

Out of a possible 12 points, Highlanders have only collected five.

They lost to Chicken Inn 2-1 and drew with Bulawayo Chiefs 1-1 before a goalless draw against Arenel Movers in the first round.

However, they managed to beat Bulawayo Chiefs 2-0 in the second round of fixtures.

The victory over Chiefs is a confidence booster.

“We haven’t done well in derbies. In the first round we dropped points but in the second round we have improved,” said Kaindu.

Ahead of the game, the Premier Soccer League (PSL) has turned down a bid from Chicken Inn to hike gate charges for the match.

In a leaked memo, PSL said the Bulawayo derby gate charges will not be hiked.

“We acknowledge receipt of your letter dated 19 August 2024 and advise that your request to increase gate charges has not been approved.

“Gate charges for your match against Highlanders shall remain as follows: rest of ground US$3, VIP US$5, VVIP $10,” the PSL wrote.

Chicken Inn will be the home side on Sunday and a big crowd is expected for the city’s biggest derby.

In other matches, Arenel Movers will face ZPC Kariba at Luveve Stadium on Saturday.

Their preparations for the game have not been smooth as they missed some days of training because of failure to pay for their training facility.

Bulawayo Chiefs will travel to Shamva for a date with Simba Bhora while Herentals face GreenFuel at Rufaro Stadium.

On Sunday, CAPS United face Manica Diamonds at Rufaro Stadium.

FC Platinum will travel to Mutare for a date with Bikita Minerals.

Meanwhile, Premier Soccer League has released a list of players to miss this weekend’s action.

ZPC Kariba and TelOne are the most affected as they will be without two players each.

Seven matches are lined up for the weekend with those involving Ngezi Platinum and Dynamos postponed because the two giants are involved in continental club football.

Leeroy Murape and former Bulawayo City and Cranbone Bullets leftback Nyasha Gurende will sit it out for the power generators while TelOne will be without Eriya Mafirenyika and Criss Munetsi Mverechena.

Highlanders will be without Muduhwa, an eventuality that could see Andrew Mbeba partner tough as teak Arthur Ndlovu in the heart of defence.

Highlanders’ weekend opponents Chicken Inn, will be without Itai Mabhunu. His absence may leave the defence exposed against the towering pair of Brighton Ncube and Nqobile Ndlovu in the Bosso attack.

Pintsized Crispen Machisi of Arenel will be out of the Arenel Movers side to meet ZPC Kariba at Luveve Stadium on Saturday.

List of suspended players

Tashinga Pfende (Greenfuel), Itai Mabhunu (Chicken Inn), Eriya Mafirenyika (TelOne), Criss Munetsi Mverechena (TelOne), Peter Muduhwa (Highlanders), Crispen Machisi (Arenel), Phineas Bamusi (Caps United), Nyasha Gurende, Leeroy Murape (ZPC Kariba), Blessing Kagudu (Herentals College)

Fixtures:

Saturday

Arenel vs ZPC Kariba (Luveve), Herentals vs Greenfuel (Rufaro), Simba Bhora vs Bulawayo Chiefs (Wadzanayi)

Sunday

Chicken Inn vs Highlanders (Barbourfields), Bikita Minerals vs FC Platinum (Sakubva), Caps United vs Manica Diamonds (Rufaro), Chegutu vs Yadah (Baobab)

-@innocentskizoe