Injuries play havoc with DeMbare pre-season

and have been sidelined from the training sessions.
DeMbare are scheduled to play Motor Action in a third-place play-off of the Bob 88 Super Cup at Rufaro on Sunday.
Coach Callisto Pasuwa yesterday revealed that he was seriously concerned with the number of players who were going down with injuries at the club.
“We have at least eight players right now who can’t take part in the training sessions because of injuries,” said Pasuwa.
“It’s a concern because it disrupts the programmes that we have put in place for the team’s preparations.”
Pasuwa said the injuries, however, should open avenues for some of the players, including recruits from the reserve side, who have been playing in previous warm-up games.
“It’s unfortunate that we have many players on the sidelines through injuries and I think about eight of them are out of this game (against Motor Action),” said Pasuwa.
“Obviously it disrupts the plans but, at the same time, I take it as an opportunity for the others to show what they can offer.
“But generally it has been a difficult period for us because some of these players have been on and off through these injuries. Imagine this week you train with half of the team and the other week you have the other half injured.”
The Dynamos medical team has been struggling to get all their players fit since they began their preparations last month.
This week veteran midfielder Murape Murape and defender Ocean Mushure joined Guthrie Zhokinyi, Gift Bello, Thomas Magorimbo, Martin Vengesai and the Zambians — Arthur Kaseloki and Derrick Kabwe — among the casualties.
Pasuwa said the injured players have been placed under physiotherapy and will not be fit for the duel against Motor Action.
Goalkeeper Washington Arubi has also been training with a limp and is another injury scare while injury prone midfielder Wonder Sithole is nowhere near 100 percent fitness although he has resumed light training after shaking off a calf strain.
However, DeMbare are still aiming at the bronze medal in the second edition of the Bob 88 Super Cup.
DeMbare beat CAPS United 3-2 last year to lift the inaugural Bob Super Cup at Rufaro, which was only contested by two teams picked by the organisers.
However, the Harare giants were unable to defend the title after losing 1-2 to Hwange in Bulawayo last month.
Four teams took part in the competition this year and Hwange will meet FC Platinum in the final on Sunday.
The platinum miners beat Motor Action 2-1 in another semi-final and will be looking forward to their first Premiership silverware on Sunday.
Despite the disappointment of bowing out in the semis and the injuries plaguing the camp, Pasuwa said the Glamour Boys will not take the game lightly.
“This is pre-season and we are still trying to build the team. So we are taking this game seriously since we were not able to have as many friendlies as we would have wanted.
“We are only left with a few weeks before the season starts and right now we don’t have much time.”
There has been concern that the training pitch that Dynamos uses at Raylton is too hard and is responsible for the injuries being sustained by the players.
DeMbare have been alternating between using Raylton and the National Sports Stadium B arena for their training sessions.
The Glamour Boys, who won the league and cup double last season, are set to plunge into the Champions League next month.
The tournament co-ordinator of the Bob 88 Super Cup, Stan Kasukuwere, said the prize money for this year’s competition will be unveiled today.
The cup was sponsored to the tune of US$40 000 last year with Dynamos getting US$25 000 for winning the title while CAPS United got US$15 000.
Both teams went on to receive US$30 000 each from President Mugabe for participating in that match.