No floodlights for DeMbare, Ngezi match . . . .Shandirwa ruled out

Eddie Chikamhi

Senior Sports Reporter

GIANTS Dynamos are confident of upstaging Castle Lager Premier Soccer League leaders Ngezi Platinum Stars in a must-win match to keep alive their hopes in this year’s title race at the National Sports Stadium this afternoon.

The Harare giants, however, will be without one of their star players Tanaka Shandirwa through injury. Defender Elvis Moyo is also a doubtful starter due to a muscle knock.

Dynamos had requested the PSL to move the game to a 6pm kick-off but the authorities were not convinced by the Glamour Boys’ appeal after they could not provide guarantees including backup for possible power outage.

The match will take place at 3pm as previously announced by the Premier Soccer League.

DeMbare chief executive officer Jonathan Mashingaidze said the request to play under the lights was driven by the need to enhance attendance and boost club coffers since it was a midweek game. But the request was not granted due to the lingering uncertainties.

DeMbare trained under floodlights on Tuesday night but they could not complete the session after electricity went off due to heavy rains.

As a result, they accepted they had no option but to play at 3pm. The cheapest ticket has been pegged at U$2.

“As for our wish for the match under floodlights, we have had a calamity in the form of a serious power outage as a result of the severe and violent hailstorm in Harare.

“So we’re reverting to 3pm.

“As a club we feel that the mid-week fixtures are not in sync with the economic trends and reality thereof. Clubs don’t receive subsidies which could have offset the expenses clubs incur for transport, full board accommodation, levies, ground hire. Besides, the levies are a millstone which is choking clubs to death,” said Mashingaidze.

Meanwhile, talented midfielder Shandirwa picked up a back injury during a four-day national team training camp held over the weekend by Warriors coach Baltemar Brito as part of the preparations for the upcoming 2026 World Cup qualifiers.

DeMbare coach Genesis Mangombe, who was also part of the camp, yesterday said the doctors assessed the midfielder and compiled a negative report.

“It’s unfortunate Tanaka failed a fitness test and as it stands, he is out of tomorrow’s (today’s) game,” said Mangombe.

“He has a back injury. The doctors are monitoring him. Our left back Elvis Moyo as well has a muscle problem but we will hear more from the medical team.

“Of course, any coach would want to have all his players available for selection in every game but we have registered 30 players and I believe we have the personnel who can also do the job well,” said Mangombe.

DeMbare were inactive last weekend after they successfully petitioned for the postponement of their game against Manica Diamonds at Gibbo.

With Ngezi Platinum Stars winning 1-0 against Chicken Inn at the same weekend, DeMbare now find themselves trailing the Mhondoro side by 11 points going into the last seven games of the season.

Dynamos have not won in their last two outings, after drawing with Triangle and then losing to Herentals, and this has taken a toll on their title challenge.

“Ngezi Platinum Stars are enjoying good form, and they are at the top of the table but we are ready for the game.

“The good thing about our boys is that they have been responding well to the philosophy of the passing game that we want to play.

“So, we are going to do everything that we can to get points against Ngezi Platinum Stars. If we can win this game, it could lift the confidence of our boys going into the last games of the season as well as boost our chances in the PSL title race.

“After that loss to Herentals, we have told the boys they really needed to lift up their game. We want top performers; we have given them that challenge. We cannot go three games without winning. So, we will see how they will respond,” said Mangombe.

His opposite number Takesure Chiragwi was in a fine mood ahead of the short trip to Harare. Ngezi Platinum Stars are better positioned to win their maiden league title this year than any other season, since they got promoted in 2016.

But Chiragwi is not putting his charges under pressure, especially ahead of a big game with DeMbare.

“To us, this is a game just like any other that we have played this season,” he said yesterday.

“Looking at how we have prepared for this game, we are going out there expecting to win.

“But winning doesn’t come easy because we are facing a team that is highly organised, a team that also wants to win. But I’m grateful for the work that has been put in by my boys and everyone behind the club. It’s a result of unity and hard work that we find ourselves where we are.

“So we keep challenging one another to work hard because the more games these guys win the more confidence they get.

“The most important thing is that they know what we want to achieve as a club. We want to be a team that always competes and finishes in respectable positions in the league.

“But where we are now, the responsibility is more on the players. I believe as coaches we have done our job to prepare them and set them up for competition. They must take up the challenge and show the world what they are made of as players and as a team,” said Chiragwi.

WEEK 28 FIXTURES

Today (3pm): Chicken Inn v ZPC Kariba (Luveve), Dynamos v Ngezi Platinum (NSS), FC Platinum v Black Rhinos (Mandava), Greenfuel v Highlanders (Greenfuel), Hwange v Herentals (Colliery), Sheasham v Triangle (Bata), Simba Bhora v CAPS United (Baobab) Tomorrow (3pm): Cranborne Bullets v Bulawayo Chiefs (NSS), Yadah v Manica Diamonds (Baobab)

Latest Standings

P W D L F A PTS

NGEZI PLATINUM 27 16 6 5 36 16 54

FC PLATINUM 27 13 7 7 30 22 46

HIGHLANDERS 27 12 10 5 19 16 46

DYNAMOS 26 11 10 5 30 11 43

MANICA DIAMONDS 26 12 7 7 33 18 43

HERENTALS COLLEGE 27 11 9 7 32 25 42

CHICKEN INN 27 9 13 5 26 20 40

SIMBA BHORA 27 8 11 8 23 18 35

HWANGE 27 9 7 11 21 23 34

CAPS UNITED 27 8 9 10 23 22 33