DeMbare, Mambas match moved

qualifiers.
Dynamos secretary-general Raymond Kazembe yesterday said they received communication from Zifa that they cannot use the venue because it is supposed to host an international match tomorrow.
Instead the stadium will be occupied by Mozambique’s side this afternoon.
According to Fifa rules the visiting team should feel the match venue exactly 24 hours before kickoff.
“The game is still on but we have changed the venue because there is going to be an international game at Rufaro on Sunday. We have now made our bookings at Gwanzura. Otherwise there are no other changes,” said Kazembe.
The Harare giants Dynamos, who are battling a spate of injuries in their camp, will test their strengths against that police side that is eager to turn around their fortunes this season.
Dynamos assistant coach Tonderai Ndiraya said they want to use the game to test match fitness and try out combinations.
DeMbare’s technical team fielded almost three batches of players – including some from their junior ranks – when they played a mid-morning practice match against Motor Action last week.
But their off-season preparation has been hit by injuries with midfielder Wonder Sithole who, appeared to have recovered from a knee injury, picking up a calf strain in the game against the Mighty Bulls.
Their strikers Roderick Mutuma, Martin Vengesai and Derrick Kabwe are also out with injuries while Denver Mukamba is walking wounded.
Dynamos’ former player Norman Maroto is expected to play a part in the game as they only have two strikers Takesure Chinyama and Tineyi Chitora up and running.
DeMbare are hoping for a good run in defence of their title this year. They are also taking part in the Champions League where they had a preliminary round bye.
DeMbare will open their account in the first round against the winner between Mafunzo of Zanzibar and Mozambique’s Maculmano de Maputo on the weekend of March 23-25.
Black Mambas coach John Ncube says he is looking forward to the friendly game to try out various combinations.
Ncube said the club will not find it easy to immediately replace attacking midfielder Amidu Abbas who moved to South African giants Kaizer Chiefs early this year but remains hopeful that they will be competitive this season.
Warumwa Warumwa are stepping up their preparations this afternoon with a friendly game against Dynamos at Rufaro. This will be Mambas’ second preparatory game following the goalless draw against last season’s silver medallists FC Platinum, who were warming up for their Champions League campaign in Swaziland.
Ncube Mambas who also lost one of their defensive stalwarts Luckson Kaisa to CAPS United will be hoping for better fortnues.
“We fought hard to survive relegation last year and we don’t want to be in the same situation this season. So far our preparations have been in the right direction and this is the right time to look at various combinations,” said Ncube.