Chaminuka injured in car crash

Sports Reporter
BUFFALOES coach Saul Chaminuka might not be on the bench this afternoon when his side get in the trenches in their fight for survival with a date against ZPC Kariba after he was involved in a car accident at the weekend. According to officials at Buffaloes, the Warriors assistant coach escaped with minor injuries, but the car he was travelling in was damaged “beyond repair.”

Chaminuka was travelling from Harare to Mutare when tragedy struck. His mobile went unanswered yesterday, but a source at Buffaloes said he was recovering well. “It’s sad the coach was involved in a car accident. We want to thank God he is alive, but the car he was driving is now beyond repair. The accident took place at Headlands railway crossing line.

“He was admitted at Rusape General Hospital and was discharged the same day at 1400hrs,” said the source. Buffaloes are currently occupying the last relegation spot and are three points in the red. The Mutare side must win today against ZPC Kariba to enhance their chances of surviving the chop.

Their relegation puzzle will get more intriguing after the matches this afternoon as newboys Whawha are likely to become the second team after fellow newboys Dongo Sawmill to bite the dust.

Whawha will be confirmed out if they lose to Harare City. “We are hoping to give our best shot. We are all looking forward to the match and the mood in our camp is unbelievable. It’s difficult to believe that we are facing the chop.

“The boys have done their best, but the results just weren’t coming. Most of them were learning the ropes and of late it appears they had gotten into the groove. “But it was probably too late. But football doesn’t end this year in Gweru, even if it means we are relegated. We have seen teams sinking and coming back,” said Mutasa.

Harare City coach Taurai Mangwiro said the newboys should not expect an easy outing. City are fighting for a top four finish, which still looks a realistic prospect with three games remaining.

They, however, will be without defender Arnold Chivheya who was involved in a car accident last Friday and is recovering from chest and facial injuries. Big forward Francisco Zekumbawire has also been ruled out with injury. “We haven’t been winning consistently at home of late and we would need to turn around the fortunes. So we need to be at our best.

“We know that Whawha are at their most dangerous because of their situation with relegation, talk of the last kicks of a dying horse. So you can only treat such a side at your own peril,” said Mangwiro. Whawha will be without Marshall Machazane and Sylvester Nhamo who are suspended for the midweek games.