Chronicle Editor
Ricky Zililo, Senior Sports Reporter
BULAWAYO Chiefs will be without the suspended duo of central defender Kelvin Moyo and forward Perfect Chikwende for Sunday’s derby against Highlanders at Barbourfields Stadium.
The two key Chiefs players are among the 13 players who will miss match day 31 of the Castle Lager Premier Soccer League after accumulating three yellow cards.
Champions FC Platinum will miss the services of central defender Lawrence Mhlanga who had formed a formidable partnership with Gift Bello when they take a trip to Harare for a date with Caps United. Also ruled out of the weekend tie from FC Platinum is defensive midfielder Rainsome Pavari who has been a vital cog in their hunt for a fourth consecutive league title.
Just like Chiefs and FC Platinum, struggling pair of Whawha and Bulawayo City have two players each suspended for the weekend games.
Bottom of the log placed Whawha play host to ZPC Kariba without the duo of Munyaradzi Chirwa and Sydney Ganje while Bulawayo City clash with Dynamos minus midfielders Cedric Chinomona and Solomon Sithole.
Chicken Inn’s midfielder Tafadzwa Kutinyu and Wilmore Chimbetu of Herentals will also sit out this weekend’s matches.
Tawanda Chisi (Triangle United), Manica Diamonds’ Carlton Munzabwa and Cranborne Bullets’ Xavier Janatana complete the list of players suspended for this weekend’s fixtures.
Meanwhile, Bulawayo Chiefs assistant coach Thulani Sibanda feels the absence of Chikwende and Moyo could be a blessing in disguise for his side that wants to preserve their energy for the November 19 Chibuku Super Cup final against Herentals.
“How we view these suspensions is twofold, it’s a blow in the sense that these are key members of the squad we need in our quest for a better finish but at the same time it presents an opportunity to rotate players. We’ve got the Chibuku Super Cup final coming next month and we’ve to balance the squad as we also compete for a place in the top six,” Sibanda said.
Chiefs, who are on position nine with 42 points, four points behind fifth on the table Highlanders, dream of moving up the table as they seek a top six finish.
Chiefs, coming from a morale boosting Chibuku Super Cup semi-final win on penalties against Black Rhinos, are aware of the daunting assignment when they play Highlanders who they knocked out 1-0 in last month’s Chibuku Super Cup quarter-final.
Bosso will be out for a revenge and they also want to consolidate their place on the table with the hope of bouncing into the top four in the event that Ngezi Platinum Stars falter against Black Rhinos. Ngezi are on position four with 47 points. — @ZililoR
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