Hectic times for Hwange

Premiership programme on Sunday.
The coal-miners, who arrived from Sudan on Tuesday, had barely found time to rest and prepare for the game when they travelled from Harare to Bulawayo yesterday thinking the match was at Barbourfields following a breakdown in communication.

However, team manager Tennant Chilumba yesterday said they are hoping to put all the negatives behind them, including the disappointing exit from the Confederation Cup on away goals rules at El Amal Atbara in Sudan, and get a positive result at Mandava today.
Chipangano trained once in Bulawayo yesterday and are expected to be on the road again to Zvishavane this morning.
“This is an important game for us. We have got to adjust to the circumstances. Imagine travelling all the way from Sudan and getting no rest while you have another game waiting for you all inside four days?

“It is very tiring for the players but it is my duty as the team manager to motivate them and talk to them about the importance of what is at stake.
“We have played FC Platinum before and they are just a normal team. It doesn’t matter they are at home. We will do our best because we don’t fear anything,” said Chilumba.
Hwange, however, will have to do without the quartet of David Boriwondo, Evans Rusike, Toninsani Sibelo and Ocean Mpofu who are injured

But leftback Munyaradzi Mungadze, who missed the trip to Sudan due to suspension, could be back in the fold.
FC Platinum are also eager to erase memories of the Sudan debacle where their maiden Champions League campaign came to a dead end following a 3-0 defeat to El Merreikh.
Club secretary, Philmon Muvengwa, yesterday said Kugona Kunenge Kudada are looking to add the Independence Cup to the Bob ’88 silverware which they won in the pre-season.

Muvengwa said they are focused on the game and will treat Hwange with respect.
“I think our preparations have not been up to scratch because of the travelling and neither have Hwange’s. But our aim is to do well especially after that defeat in Sudan. We need to pick ourselves up and look ahead.
“Cup matches are unpredictable and knowing that Hwange are a good side we will put everything to play in the final and celebrate with the whole nation in the finals

next week,” said Muvengwa.
The winners will face Motor Action in the finals to be played next Wednesday.
Hwange and FC Platinum will meet again at the Colliery in a league encounter on Sunday.
Premiership action will be in full swing this weekend as Harare City hope for improvement in their strikeforce as they look for their maiden victory in the top flight

league against 2009 champions Gunners at Gwanzura on Saturday.
The newboys have shown potential in their first two games which they drew against Motor Action and Monomotapa but have been let down by a blunt strike force.
In their last match, Harare City drew 1-1 with Monomotapa with Kamalongoshi Chidzero scoring their only goal from a free-kick.
City coach Bigboy Mawiwi, who also guided Gunners to the Premiership in 2008, yesterday said they have been working on their shortcomings following a host of missed chances in the 1-1 draw with Monomotapa.
“The team is settling down and I could see the difference when we played Monomotapa at the weekend. We played better than the first game against Motor Action and I should say we were just unlucky not to win.
“The confidence is coming up with each game and we have to improve in our strikeforce.

“I know Gunners are a good side which plays good, passing football and we are going to treat them with the respect they need to be accorded. Right now we are working on our finishing,” Mawiwi said.
Gunners are also looking for their first win of the season after suffering a disappointing 0-1 defeat at their Lafarge home ground to Motor Action.
Gunners opened their campaign this season on a promising note when they collected a point in a goalless draw against Chicken Inn in their first game.
Chando Kupisa would need to start collecting points as a matter of urgency to take off pressure and avoid last year’s scenario when they wallowed at the basement of the league table for the whole first half of the season.

The pressure is even more on CAPS United who face Motor Action at Gwanzura on Sunday.
The Green Machine are winless in two matches and the club’s supporters are already showing signs of restlessness following violent behaviour which led to the abandonment of their match against Chicken Inn last week when they were trailing 2-0 at Gwanzura.
Highlanders, who sounded loud shots in their first game of the season, will be back at Barbourfields on Sunday when they host newly-promoted Hardbody.

Bosso beat Blue Rangers 4-0 in their opening match but were inactive last week as their opponents, FC Platinum, were away in Sudan for the Champions League tie against El Merreikh.
The Bulawayo giants will be looking for another full set of points over Hardbody who currently anchor the table after losing twice to Dynamos and Black Mambas in their two matches.

Fixtures
Today — Independence Trophy semi-final: FC Platinum v Hwange (Mandava)
Castle Lager Premiership
Saturday — Dynamos v Monomotapa (NSS), Black Mambas v Buffaloes (Morris Depot), Chicken Inn v Quelaton (Luveve), Harare City v Gunners (Gwanzura).
Sunday — Highlanders v Hardbody (Barbourfields), Hwange v FC Platinum (Colliery), Motor Action v CAPS United (Gwanzura), Shabanie Mine v Blue Rangers (Maglas).