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The Adam Ndlovu-coached and Innscor Africa-bankrolled club play host to a troubled Shabanie Mine in a Castle Lager Premier Soccer League match at Luveve Stadium having gone for 180 minutes without a win. Their opponents, coached by the controversial Luke Masomere, have also lost two matches and coincidentally they have conceded the same number of goals. The losses have triggered unrest in the asbestos mine camp which is threatening to destabilise the team.
The former Warriors striker Ndlovu said he did not want to read much into their opponents’ internal squabbles come Sunday.
“Our strikers have not been doing justice to us in the last two games and as such we have been concentrating on that during the week and I hope they will deliver come Sunday. The internal squabbles at Shabanie Mine should not fool us into relaxing because I know that when those boys get onto the pitch, it is something else,” said Ndlovu.
He said while they respect their opponents, they were determined to collect maximum points on Sunday. Ndlovu reported a clean bill of health except for veteran defender and skipper Herbert Dick.
With players in the mould of Felix Chindungwe and Guide Goddard in defence, Danny Phiri in front of the defence and young Kudakwashe Mahachi, Chicken Inn must also be wondering why they have been losing games. Perhaps some of the players now need to accept that team work is more important than individual glory as seen in some of their games where a player decides to go for glory even if there could be a better positioned player. Exciting Tendai Ndoro has been guilty of such practices.
Meanwhile, Ndlovu has appealed to referees to be fair.
“I am not saying we lost because of the referees but some of the decisions that went against us left a lot to be desired and as small teams, we are at the mercy of match officials so what I am saying is that they should simply apply the rules of the game,” he said.
The asbestos’ miners will rely on the leading goalscorer in the country with 13 goals, Nelson Mazivisa,who has however failed to find the net in the last four games. He even missed a penalty against Harare City. Log anchors and strong candidates for relegation Quelaton, who welcomed back the man who gave them seven points Farai Sibanda before an embarrassing administrative boob that saw them being docked three points for using a suspended player, Zibusiso Sibanda, are also at home to Buffaloes.
Buffaloes coach Saul Chaminuka was given an ultimatum to collect at least seven points from a possible nine. He has three so far.
Despite impressing, Sibanda was nevertheless not good enough for Quelaton and club director Tawanda Ruzive.
The club decided to rope in Philani Ncube in his place but still there was no change of fortunes and now sanity seems to have prevailed and they have retraced their steps to Entumbane where Sibanda resides.
Last week the team was under Chipo Tsodzo when they went down 2-0 to Dynamos.
Log leaders Highlanders will be invading the capital this evening for a date with Harare City at Rufaro Stadium tomorrow while Hwange, who are yet to lose in the second half, are also in Harare for a game with Motor Action tomorrow.
The Hwange/Motor Action match can go either way as Tennant Chilumba’s boys would want to show why they participated in the Caf Confederation Cup this year. The Zambian though, looks set to surrender his Coach of the Year accolade, probably to another fellow Zambian, unless something dramatic happens.
The capital is bracing for a bruising battle between bitter city rivals Dynamos and Caps United. The match is set for the giant National Sports Stadium on Sunday and the hype has reached fever pitch even on social network sites. Some fans with artistic flair have even come up with a green coffin that has since been opened and someone in green emerging that Makepekepe are dead and waiting to be buried.
Fixtures:
Saturday: Harare City v Highlanders (Rufaro), Blue Rangers v Hardbody (Gwanzura), FC Platinum v Monomotapa (Mandava), Gunners v Black Mambas (Lafarge), Quelaton v Buffaloes (Luveve), Motor Action v Hwange (Motor Action Sports Club).
Sunday: Caps United v Dynamos (National Sports Stadium), Chicken Inn v Shabanie Mine (Luveve).
Online Reporter