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Harare Bureau
AFTER a long lay off, the Premiership returns tomorrow with some mid week clashes as the league enters Round 20. League teams last played matches on 15 August as they had to pave way for national team commitments and the Sup8r tournament played at the weekend.
All the teams are back in action this week and there are some exciting matches for the top teams tomorrow.
At Rufaro, it’s derby tomorrow when log leaders Harare City host Dynamos. The champions will have to quickly put behind their disappointment of failing to secure a BancABC Sup8r final place and shift their focus to the title race.
This match is very crucial and has a bearing on the league title. In another crucial match tomorrow, second placed Highlanders welcome Monomotapa who were at the losing end during the weekend.
Monoz were embarrassed 3-1 by FC Platinum in the other semi-final match. The two semi-final matches were both played at Barbourfields. Monoz return to the same venue within a few days hoping to salvage something this time around.
Highlanders are not in their best shape at the moment. Zambian coach Kelvin Kaindu would be hoping that the break will bring good tidings for the team.
Bosso mauled Monoz 5-2 in the reverse leg at Rufaro. A brace from Graham Ncube and Mthulisi Maphosa as well as a goal from Njabulo Ncube buried the hosts.
A brace from Monoz striker Ishmael Lawe could not count for much. Monoz should have put behind that humiliating defeat as they meet Bosso at their own home ground.
Yesterday, Monomotapa coach Biggie Zuze said they were coming to Bulawayo with one thing in mind which is to start picking up points.
“We have to put our heads together because the position we are in is not good. We lost heavily at Rufaro but created a lot of chances.
“So we have to rise to the occasion now. Morale may be a bit down because at the weekend we lost in the semi-finals.
“But I believe we might have an advantage. We managed to shake off some rust at the weekend but our opponents were not active,” said Zuze.
The coach said they were having some problems with finishing and were also not very solid at the first line of defence.
“We are not finishing the chances we create and it was the same against FC Platinum. Also our defence is conceding unnecessary goals especially towards the end of the match. We have a new defender Lawrence Mhlanga and he had stabilised our defence but was injured during the FC Platinum match. We are going to miss him,” he said.
Zuze would also be hoping that Ronald “Rooney” Chitiyo and Obey Mwerahari recover in time for the game. The duo got knocks during the clash against FC Platinum and yesterday only managed light training.
The coach said in the absence of the influential players the team will make do with some young players.
Away from the top teams, it is also happening down the ladder where teams are jostling for survival.
Troubled Motor Action host a resurgent Triangle at Motor Action Sports Club tomorrow. The Mighty Bulls coach Joey Antipas would be counting on his youth brigade which gave a lot of reason to believe in the last league match against Dynamos.
However, he would be hoping that their industrious should at least be rewarded with points. The team acquired a number of players from Aces Youth Academy during the transfer window.
“The young players have been putting in a lot of hard work. During the break we trained continuously and had some practise matches.
“All we have to do is carry on from where we left against Dynamos. If we can get the three points, it would be a big relief.
“Our chances against Triangle are even. We are all coming from the break and the team which is more prepared will pull through,” said Antipas.
Triangle coach Gishon Ntini said they would be banking on their better record when playing away. The team has dropped a lot of points at Gibo. Before the break, they let slip a 2-0 lead to share spoils with Black Rhinos. The Lowveld team, in the past seven matches, have won four times, drew twice and lost once.
The newboys have acquired during the transfer window, nomadic Norman Togara, former Motor Action player Misheck Mburayi and Walter Makanda from Chicken Inn.
“Obviously, the break has been too long but it affected all teams and might slightly slow down the expectations and performance.
“We expect to get three points but we have to work hard. And nothing is impossible in football. We are playing well. It will be an advantage for us since we playing away from home. We do well away and we have equal chances as the home team,” said Ntini.
Fixtures
Tomorrow: Motor Action v Triangle (Motor Action Sports Club), Black Rhinos v Shabanie Mine (Rimuka), Buffaloes v Chicken Inn (Sakubva), Highlanders v Monomotapa (Barbourfields), Harare City v Dynamos (Rufaro), Hwange v FC Platinum (Colliery).
Thursday: How Mine v Black Mambas (Luveve), Caps United v Tripple B (National Sports Stadium).
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