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Grace Chingoma Senior Sports Reporter
AFTER a long lay off, the domestic Premiership returns tomorrow with midweek clashes as the marathon enters Round 20 with a derby clash between leaders Harare City and champions Dynamos. Teams in the country’s top-flight league last played a match on August 15 as they paved the way for national team commitments and the BancABC Sup8r Cup tournament.
However, all the teams will finally get some action with exciting matches lined up for the leading sides in the coming two days.
At Rufaro, it’s derby time tomorrow, when log leaders Harare City host wounded champions Dynamos.
The champions will hope to quickly put the disappointment of their heartbreaking and shocking failure in the BancABC Sup8r Cup semi-finals behind them and shift their focus on the race that matters the most — the battle for the championship.
DeMbare were booted out of the BancABC Sup8r Cup by Shabanie after they failed to hold their nerve in the penalty shootout lottery at Barbourfields on Sunday.
Coach Callisto Pasuwa will look at his decision to pull out Oscar Machapa and replace him with the ineffective Benjamin Marere as one of the big turning points of that contest.
But Pasuwa is also right to say that his team is being let down by their forwards who, once again, missed good chances on Sunday to put this game to bed.
None of the men who play in the specialist strikers’ position at DeMbare have found the target in the team’s last four league matches with Patrick Khumbula the last to get on the scoresheet in the 3-0 thrashing of How Mine at Rufaro in Round 15.
DeMbare then fired blanks in the 0-1 defeat to How Mine, edged Buffaloes 1-0 at Rufaro courtesy of a goal by defender Augustine Mbara, fired blanks in the goalless draw against Black Rhinos and then edged Motor Action 1-0 with a late, late goal from defender Sydney Linyama.
Winger Russell Madamombe was on target in the BancABC Sup8r Cup semi-final at Barbourfields and the only member of the team’s frontline forwards who took part in the penalty shootout, Clive Kawinga, missed from the spot.
Madamombe was also on target when DeMbare beat Buffaloes 2-0 in the BancABC Sup8r Cup quarter-finals at Gibbo with defender, Mbara, providing the other goal.
Shabanie, to their credit, never stopped trying and were rewarded with about 10 minutes left in the contest with an equaliser.
Harare City have been consistent and coach Bigboy Mawiwi has assembled quite a strong and competitive team that can stand against any side in the league and they could pile on the misery on DeMbare if they get into their stride.
In Bulawayo, Highlanders welcome Monomotapa who were well beaten 1-3 by FC Platinum, who appear to have the best forwardline in the top-flight league, in the Sup8r Cup on Saturday.
Highlanders are not in their best shape at the moment and Zambian coach Kelvin Kaindu will be hoping that the break will bring good tidings for the team.
Monomotapa coach Biggie Zuze said it was about time his side started getting some positive results.
“We have to put our heads together because the position we are in is not good. We lost heavily at Rufaro (2-5 against Bosso) but created a lot of chances,” said Zuze.
“So, we have to rise to the occasion now. Morale may be a bit down because at the weekend we lost in the semi-finals.
“But I believe we might have an advantage. We managed to shake off some rust at the weekend while our opponents were not competitive.
“We are not finishing the chances we are creating, it was the same against FC Platinum. Also, our defence is conceding unnecessary goals especially towards the end of the match.
“We have a new defender Lawrence Mhlanga and he had stabilised our defence but was injured during the FC Platinum match. We are going to miss him.”
Zuze would also be hoping that Ronald “Rooney” Chitiyo and Obey Mwerahari recover in time for the game. The duo got knocks during the clash against FC Platinum.
Troubled Motor Action host a resurgent Triangle at Motor Action Sports Club. Mighty Bulls coach Joey Antipas would be counting on his youth brigade which gave him a lot of reason to believe in their last league match against Dynamos.
“The young players have been putting in a lot of hard work. During the break we trained continuously and had some practise matches,” said Antipas.
“All we have to do is carry on from where we left against Dynamos. If we can get the three points, it would be a big relief.
“Our chances against Triangle are even. We are all coming from the break and the team which is more prepared will pull through,” said Antipas. Triangle coach Gishon Ntini said they would be banking on their better record when playing away from home. The newboys have acquired nomadic defender Norman Togara, former Motor Action player Misheck Mburayi and Walter Makanda from Chicken Inn.
“Obviously, the break has been too long but it affected all teams, we expect to get three points but we have to work hard,” said Ntini.
Fixtures
Tomorrow: Motor Action v Triangle (Motor Action Sports Club), Black Rhinos v Shabanie Mine (Rimuka), Buffaloes v Chicken Inn (Sakubva), Highlanders v Monomotapa (Barbourfields), Harare City v Dynamos (Rufaro), Hwange v FC Platinum (Colliery).
Thursday: How Mine v Black Mambas (Luveve), CAPS United v Tripple B
(National Sports Stadium).
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