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Eddie Chikamhi Sports Reporter
LONG-TERM injury casualty Masimba Mambare is back in training, but champions Dynamos say they will not rush him into action as they continue their Castle Lager Premiership campaign with a tricky tie against Shabanie Mine at Rufaro on Sunday.
The Glamour Boys will be without another forward, Simba Sithole.
Mambare has endured a nightmarish season since his high-profile move from Highlanders and has been out of action for the last five months after he was injured in an Independence Cup semi-final tie against Harare City at Rufaro.
While Mambare is unlikely to return to the DeMbare line-up as early as this weekend, his appearance at the club’s training ground at Zimphos yesterday, where he was fully involved in the session, provided a refreshment for the Glamour Boys.
Mambare controlled and kicked the ball without any difficulties at yesterday’s training session and appeared at ease with himself, which could signal the beginning of his long-awaited return to the Glamour Boys’ line-up.
The experienced forward was DeMbare’s marquee signing during the off-season but the Glamour Boys haven’t had a good return on their investment, from one of the best players in the domestic Premiership.
To their credit, Dynamos have competed very well, without their big off-season acquisition, and lead the championship race by two points and, crucially, have a four-point cushion over big rivals Highlanders and CAPS United.
The experienced forward was the leading light at Bosso in the past two seasons and his defection to DeMbare made front page headlines in the Chronicle with many, in the City of Kings, unhappy with his decision to leave the Bulawayo giants for their biggest rivals.
DeMbare coach Callisto Pasuwa said they were still monitoring Mambare.
“(Concerning Mambare), I have been talking to the doctors and they told me he is now doing light training,” said Pasuwa.
“The whole week he was running around. The last time he tried to do light training, his leg got swollen again but this time it appears there is no problem.
“So, we will keep monitoring his progress. With luck we might be able to get him for the last few games of the season.”
While Mambare is unlikely to play this weekend, Sithole has been ruled out of Sunday’s home match against Shabanie because of a hamstring strain as the technical team yesterday raised concern over the prospects of recurring injuries to more of their players at this crucial stage of the championship race.
Injury-prone Sithole, who recently celebrated his return to his good old form with a remarkable double in the TM Pick n’ Pay Challenge victory over Highlanders, is down again after pulling a muscle in the last league outing at FC Platinum.
The striker has not been able to join his teammates in training this week and is out of the coach’s plans for Sunday’s game.
There was also no good news concerning versatile midfielder Walter Mukanga, who was injured in the challenge match against Highlanders three weeks ago, and Ocean Mushure, who has been battling recurrent knocks this season, as the players could not take part in full training exercises.
Sithole’s injury comes at a time when DeMbare were welcoming back to fitness most of their players like Tawanda Muparati, Milton Makopa, Cliff Sekete, Clive Kawinga, Farai Mupasiri and Mambare, who had spent the better part of the season nursing injuries.
Pasuwa, yesterday said he was worried about the prospects of more injuries in the coming weeks as he believes the hard surface at Rufaro could be contributing to the problem.
“From the 18 players that went to FC Platinum I think we have got Simba Sithole, who is injured, and I think he is not part of us this weekend,” said Pasuwa.
“Otherwise, all the other players are available for selection.
“Mukanga was injured, I think it’s been a month now. He last played against Highlanders and is still on the injury list.
“He is joining Masimba Mambare on the injury list. Ocean Mushure played on that turf (at Rufaro) and his knee got swollen. I have problems with the artificial turf. Again we have some more players whom we know that if they play on that turf this week then we might not be able to have them next week.
“So, I think it’s the hard surface which is affecting us most. Maybe the good part of it is that this year we registered 35 players and this has helped us a lot in terms of replacements.”
The Harare giants, however, are looking for a positive result at home in their campaign for a fourth league championship in succession.
DeMbare are leading the race on 43 points, two clear of surprise package ZPC Kariba.
Shabanie Mine have not been easy customers in the last two seasons as all three matches they have played from last year have ended in stalemates.
Pasuwa yesterday said they will take the match against the Zvishavane-based side seriously despite their poor form this season.
The asbestos miners apparently are battling for survival as they are currently sitting third from bottom on the log table with 26 points.
Their coach Jairos Tapera has said they desperately need the points to increase their chances of surviving the chop.
The reverse fixture between the teams ended in a goalless draw at Maglas.
“Remember the last time we played Shabanie Mine we drew,” said Pasuwa.
“Like I have said, it’s about the attitude from everyone at Dynamos. Playing Shabanie Mine is not an easy match.
“We should have to prepare well for this game as some of these teams are fighting relegation and some want to be on top of the log.
“So, every game that we play we should have to do it well so that we collect points and maintain our place on the log table.”
Fixtures:
Tomorrow:
How Mine v Chicken Inn (Hartsfield), FC Platinum v Buffaloes (Mandava), Chapungu v Chiredzi (Ascot), Black Rhinos v CAPS United (Rimuka)
Sunday:
Dynamos v Shabanie (Rufaro), Triangle v Harare City (Gibbo), Highlanders v ZPC Kariba (Hartsfield)
Monday:
Bantu Rovers v Hwange (Hartsfield)
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