adminGrace Chingoma Sports Reporter
CHAPUNGU coach John Nyaikadzino has vowed to maintain the team’s impressive record at Ascot, where they are yet to lose a match this season, when they host a resurgent Harare City in a league match this afternoon.
The Premiership returnees have made sure that they turn their home ground into a fortress with big teams such as Dynamos and CAPS United finding the going tough.
“We are prepared for the game. We know they are now in form and playing very well. But we have an advantage we are playing so well at home so that, on its own, is good for us,” said Nyikadzino.
“All the teams that have come here have said they want to break that record but they failed. Harare City are even coming at a wrong time when we have lost to ZPC Kariba and we are itching for a victory.”
Chapungu will be missing defender Blessing Mbuwarira, who was red- carded last weekend for a bad tackle on ZPC Kariba midfielder Raphael Manuwire.
Ngoni Murisa is also suspended after accumulating three yellow cards.
Charles Mativenga, who was injured in the ill-tempered match last weekend, is scheduled to under go a scan and is also out of the match.
The coach said while they will miss the players they have enough in their reserve.
“We don’t register players to add numbers so it is still game on for us. I am one of the coaches who pick players based on the opponent we would be facing on a particular day so I have the right players for the Harare City game,” he said.
Harare City are facing the Gweru side at a time they believe they have struck a rich vein of form and yesterday coach Bigboy Mawiwi said they were confident ahead of the game.
On Monday, the Sunshine Boys registered their biggest victory of the season so far when they beat Bantu Rovers 4-1 at Rufaro.
Striker Agrippa Murimba scored two goals while Phineas Bamusi was also on target and created the other goals.
“We are going there with our confidence very high and we have no pressure at all. I would want to believe they are the ones under pressure as they would want to maintain their unbeaten record at home.
“The result against Bantu Rovers is good for confidence especially when going into a fortress like Ascot.
“We have started playing well away if the performance against How Mine is anything to go by. We did very well in that match and we hope to continue playing like that away,” said Mawiwi.
Mawiwi would be forced to try another option like Tendai Ngulube in the defensive link as James Jam is serving his last match suspension for the red card received against How Mine while his replacement on the Monday match Raymond Uchena has been ruled out with an injury.
Defender Crispen Dickson and goalkeeper John Nomore are still out with injuries.
Fixtures
Today:
Chapungu v Harare City (Ascot, SS).
Tomorrow: Bantu Rovers v Buffaloes (Luveve), Black Rhinos v Triangle United (Rimuka, SS).
Sunday:
Chiredzi v CAPS United (Chishamiso), Dynamos v Highlanders (National Sports Stadium, SS), Hwange v Chicken Inn (Colliery), How Mine v FC Platinum (Luveve), Shabanie Mine v ZPC Kariba (Maglas).
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