adminSikhumbuzo Moyo Senior Sports Reporter
DEPENDABLE Highlanders’ utility player Erick Mudzingwa makes a return to the side in a crunch Castle Lager Premier Soccer League tie against FC Platinum at Barbourfields Stadium tomorrow after he missed the demolition of Hwange in the season opener last week due to injury. Bosso beat Hwange 3-0 through goals by Bruce Kangwa and a Knox Mutizwa double.
Mudzingwa also missed Highlanders’ visit to Hwange in the final league game of 2015 due to suspension. Bosso won that tie 4-3 to end the season in blistering form under caretaker coach Amini Soma-Phiri, who is now the assistant to Dutchman Erol Akbay.
“Erick is back in the team,” said Akbay, who is looking for a back-to-back win in the league. The two sides will also meet on Wednesday in the semi-finals of Independence Cup at Mandava Stadium.
Bosso will be hoping to build on their winning start to the season. However, FC Platinum is a strong side with an equally shrewd mentor in former Warriors’ coach Norman Mapeza.
Akbay is aware of the danger posed by their Zvishavane opponents tomorrow, but believes they will win. “We always want to beat big teams and FC Platinum is a big team. The game is very important to us,” said Akbay.
The two teams always produce a flawless brand of football that leaves fans asking for more and tomorrow should certainly not be any different. Both sets of coaches are not expected to make major changes to the line-ups that did duty in the opening league matches.
FC Platinum narrowly beat Tsholotsho 2-1 at Mandava Stadium with on loan Bantu Rovers’ player Nqobizitha Masuku, who turned out for Highlanders last season, scoring the opening goal and Obey Chirwa sealing victory for the platinum miners.
“I’m not going to change my team,” said Akbay, a confirmation that marksman Mutizwa will once again be in the thick of things together with veteran Ralph Matema as twin strikers.
They will have to contend with the Moyo twins, Kelvin and Elvis in the visitors’ defence as well as Hilary Bakacheza and Masuku in midfield.
Highlanders have Simon Munawa, who seems to have finally monopolised the holding midfield role, already operating just in front of the central defence and he will be assisted by dribbling menace King Nadolo, Douglas Sibanda and Benson Phiri, who all did duty in Hwange.
Meanwhile, the potentially explosive encounter will be curtain-raised by Highlanders Academy and Amagagasi in the Zifa Southern Region Division One season opener.
Online Reporter