Late fitness test for Gamecocks goalie

Innocent Kurira, Sports Reporter

GOALKEEPER Donovan Bernard, who limped off the pitch in Chicken Inn’s 1-0 victory over Simba Bhora last Saturday is subject to a late fitness ahead of this weekend’s away game to Cranborne Bullets.

Bernard was taken off with three minutes to play in some clear discomfort. He was replaced by the equally capable Pride Zendera.

Prince Matore, the Chicken Inn coach indicated that the injury suffered by their first choice keeper is not serious.

“There will be a late fitness test today for Donovan, if he is not ready the other guys will come in. We have played two games without six players who are injured. They are recovering but maybe one or two may be ready for the next game,” said Matore.

The 27-year-old Bernard, who kept 18 clean sheets and conceded 20 goals last season is a vital cog in the Gamecocks line-up.

In July last year, Bernard’s proposed move to South Africa’s Tshakhuma Tsha Madzivhandila (TTM) collapsed, amid revelations that the Motsepe Foundation Championship side changed goalposts on what had initially been agreed with the goalkeeper.

Sources close to the player alleged the Limpopo-based club reduced the package they had initially offered to the Zimbabwe Warriors goalkeeper and negotiations between the two parties hit a brick wall, which saw the player return to Chicken Inn.

Other players nursing injuries in the Gamecocks camp are combative midfielder Richard Hachiro, striker Clive Augusto, forward Munashe Pini, twin centre-backs Itai Mabunu and Vincent Moyo.

In the absence of Mabunu and Moyo, new signings Mpumelelo Bhebhe and Dominic Jaricha have started at the heart of the Gamecocks defence.

Jaricha and Bhebhe, who were both previously with Bulawayo City have done well, as evidenced by the Gamecocks not conceding in the two matches they have played so far.