DeMbare date Shabanie in friendly

Luke Masomere yesterday vowed they will be a better team this season and have set a target to finish in top eight.
DeMbare on the other hand have revealed that they need to play more friendly games outside Harare to improve on their away record.
Many Premiership clubs will be involved in friendly matches today as CAPS United engage Buffaloes at Sakubva while Motor Action host DStv Rangers.
FC Platinum, who are preparing for the Champions League preliminary round match against Green Mamba of Swaziland next week, engage fellow Premiership side Black Mambas at Rufaro.
Masomere said his side, which is coming from a training camp in Mashava, is looking forward to their first practice game.
“We are going to parade our new signings and the team for 2012 season on Sunday afternoon.
“We want to see if we are planning our things in the right direction by playing the champions.
“It is, however, not a must-win game but we want to see the progress we have made in terms of preparations,” Masomere said.
Shabanie have enlisted the services of FC Platinum strikers Francis Kanda, Nelson Mazivisa, who was on loan to Kiglon, and Raymond Sibanda who formed a deadly combination with Donald Ngoma that led to the promotion of FC Platinum to the elite league.
The asbestos miners have also secured the services of former Hwange and Zimbabwe Saints leftback John Kapenya, a direct replacement of Jonathan Chitereki who joined Motor Action.
Gifted striker Pervington Zimunya, who left the relegated Masvingo United together with Isaac Chapura, will also be in action.
Masomere also has Tonderai Charles, a young player from Zim Alloys, in his plans.
Former Shabanie defender Phillip Sithole, who played for Dynamos in 2010 before packing his bags to join Zimbabwe Saints and then Kiglon when the window opened, has been training with the team.
Musareka Jenitala, who has been plying his trade outside Zimbabwe, is also trying to catch the eye of Masomere as he has been training with the Zvishavane side for the past two weeks.
“We only started our preparations two weeks ago and, besides, my team is made up of players under the age of 25 with only three above that age.
“The biggest boost is the return of Rukanda (Tarisai). He did not play last season because of injury but he is looking very fit and sharp and he is likely to cause anxious moments for the visitors.
“I am a bit happy with the squad that I have now and there is a very big improvement in the set up that we had last season.
“There is a lot of talent in the team and after the Dynamos game I will be having the final list of the Shabanie Mine Football team,” Masomere said.
Dynamos, who will be playing in the Champions League, have been training since January 9.
They played friendly games against Quelaton and Motor Action and also featured in the semi-finals of the Bob ’88 Cup losing 2-1 to Hwange.
Assistant coach, Tonderai Ndiraya, said the Glamour Boys still have more work to do in terms of fitness and striking combinations.
“When we played against Hwange we had only trained for three weeks and it’s unfortunate we were not prepared for the game.
“But we are quite happy with the way the team played because we managed to create some chances which we could not convert.
“What was encouraging is that chances were created and we need to work on finishing and avoid mistakes at the back, and twice Hwange punished us.
“Match-fitness is also a big factor. Normally it would need at least eight weeks for a team to play competitively and it will be good if we get more of these practice games,” said Ndiraya.
The Harare giants have Rodreck Mutuma, Martin Vengesayi, Derrick Kabwe, Gift Bello and Thomas Magorimbo on the injury list.
They are set to welcome back their son Norman Maroto and goalkeeper Munyaradzi Diya who have been training with the squad.
George Magariro, Denver Mukamba and former Masvingo midfielder Wonder Sithole are key figures in the blue and white ship.
The Glamour Boys have already lost striker Cuthbert Malajila to South Africa’s Maritzburg United.
Meanwhile, Webster Chitono, the Shabanie chairman, said he is looking forward to the new season.
“We are edging the fans to come in numbers and watch their team in action. Last season we were battling to get a sponsor but this season we are working on something.
“We are edging the community and partners to come and pour something in the team.
“We need partners as we want the team to be taken care of by the Zvishavane community and other interested parties and not the mine alone
“We are currently negotiating with a number of interested people. We are also in talks with players from FC Platinum and very soon they will be putting pen to paper.
“FC Platinum offered us the first priority to get the players of our choice from those they offloaded and my coach is interested in the three players Kanda, Sibanda and Mazivisa.
“We have great plans for the team and we are confident that we will not be struggling for sponsorship this season if we get partners,” he said.