adminRicky Zililo Senior Sports Reporter
BULAWAYO soccer giants Highlanders will this afternoon field two foreign strikers when they take on FC Platinum in their last friendly match before the 2014 season kicks off. Highlanders this week opened their doors to Zambian striker Jerry Simfwuwe who has been studying in South Africa. Coach Kelvin Kaindu yesterday said he will give the forward a chance to prove himself against FC Platinum at Mandava Stadium today.
Also set to get his first start for Bosso is Habbas Jim from Burundi who has been training with the club for the last two weeks.
Kaindu who is using today’s match to fine-tune his combinations said the encounter in Zvishavane would afford them an opportunity to have a look at the new recruits, including those that are still trying their luck at Bosso.
“I believe it is only fair to give the guys that have been attending trials with us game time and show their worth. We have to see how they react or perform in an actual game situation and our fans also deserve to see how the trialists are doing.
“Besides giving trialists a run, we will also parade some of the new players so that we see how they are gelling as we polish our combinations,” said Kaindu.
Highlanders are playing FC Platinum for the second time this pre-season having won 1-0 at Barbourfields Stadium recently courtesy of a Kuda Mahachi strike.
Some of Highlanders’ new signings that might play today are Mahachi, Charles Sibanda, Valentine Ndaba, Welcome Ndiweni, Khumbulani Banda, Felix Chindungwe, goalkeeper Njabulo “Popo” Nyoni and Mkhululi Dube.
Two Canadian players that were trying their luck at Highlanders have since returned to their country.
Just like Kaindu, FC Platinum coach Lloyd Mutasa is also using the match to work on his combinations having been very active in the transfer market too.
They brought in Njabulo “Tshiki” Ncube from Highlanders, Tarisai Rukanda (Shabanie Mine), Stephen “Dealer” Sibanda (Buffaloes), national Under-20 duo of Walter Musona and Wisdom Mutasa from Aces Youth Academy. Wisdom turned out for relegated Motor Action last season.
“The game against Highlanders will help us to see how we are moving in terms of our preparations but of course we want to get a positive result. This is an opportune time for the new guys to prove themselves as we assess how they are gelling with the rest of the players in the team,” Mutasa said.
Meanwhile, Chicken Inn travel to Beitbridge for a date with Town United.
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