admintomorrow.
Kutsanzira, who had been battling a groin injury for the last one month, appeared to have made good progress towards recovery before another blow struck during the curtain-raiser to Makepekepe’s clash with FC Platinum at the National Sports Stadium last Sunday.
The talented former Highlanders player featured in the reserve side as he was not available for selection, serving a one match suspension for accumulating three yellow cards.
Kutsanzira last featured during the Harare Derby which ended in a 1-0 loss to Dynamos after shaking a groin injury that had kept him out for nearly a month.
Makepekepe will also be without skipper Tapiwa Khumbuyani, who is suspended this week, while George Magariro and Hardlife Zvirekwi have asked to be excused due to family commitments.
Zvirekwi is wedding his sweetheart tomorrow.
CAPS United coach Taurai Mangwiro remained optimistic as they seek to stabilise the ship after an erratic campaign and they come into the contest boosted by a by a 2-1 win over championship contenders FC Platinum.
“They are key players but if you lose one of them it doesn’t spell the end of the world. We thrive on team work and it’s also about others grabbing the opportunity to prove their worth,” said Mangwiro.
CAPS United will welcome one of their chief strikers Tawanda Nyamandwe from national team duty.
Nyamandwe is one of nearly half dozen former Monomotapa players in the Makepekepe books, not forgetting the coach Mangwiro, who also had a stint with the Harare side.
The Green Machine will be looking for their first victory over Monoz in four years since 2009.
“We have got quite a number of players who were once at Monomotapa and they are all looking forward to the match,” said Mangwiro.
“I also spent three-and-half years at the club which I treasure very much up to now.
“I have noticed and applaud the progress they have been making with the youngsters there and I can say I am ready to face some of the youngsters I have helped nurture.
“We are still good friends with their coaches Biggie Zuze, Nkululeko Dhlamini and George Jojo but for the duration of the 90 minutes we will be rivals.”
Two points separate the teams on the log standings with CAPS United on seventh position, having amassed 17 points from 12 starts while Monomotapa are not far on 10th place.
However, Monoz will have to deal with several of their former sons who include striker Nyamandwe, Joseph Mutambiranwa, Tawanda Munyanduri, Tendai Samanja and Dominic Mukandi.
They are coming from a good show in a 0-0 draw away at Hwange and they receive a boost with the return of their captain Kuda Musharu and Ronald Chitiyo who were with the national team last week.
Monomotapa are also hoping that defender Charles Rukwanhi, Hillary Mugoniwa and Morgan Mungombe, who have been nursing injuries, bounce back into the team.
Defending champions Dynamos, who experienced a serious crisis last week due to injuries in their camp, might be forced to come up with stop-gap measures again in their match against Black Rhinos.
The DeMbare medical team is still keeping an eye on Partson Jaure who has started light training, alongside midfielder Cliff Sekete, while his defence partner Gift Bello remains grounded with an ankle injury.
The two Dynamos defenders were injured in the match against Harare City last week.
DeMbare, however, got a boost with the return of leftback Ocean Mushure and Devon Chafa from the Warriors commitment in a friendly match against Malawi.
Big striker Francesco Zekumbawira, who has been complaining of a thigh injury, has not started training while Patrick Khumbula now appears fully fit after missing a couple of games.
Fixtures
Tomorrow
FC Platinum v Harare City (Mandava), Chicken Inn v Black Mambas (Luveve), Triangle v Buffaloes (Gibbo), Tripple B v Motor Action (Dulibadzimu), Monomotapa v CAPS United *SS9 (Rufaro) 1400hrs
Sunday
Dynamos v Black Rhinos * SS9 (Rufaro) 1400hrs, Hwange v Highlanders (Colliery), Shabanie Mine v How Mine (Maglas)
Online Reporter