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Sikhumbuzo Moyo Senior Sports Reporter
A RECORD 16 players from 11 clubs are suspended for match day 29 of the Castle Lager Premier Soccer League this weekend. Only five clubs, championship-chasing Dynamos and ZPC Kariba who are clashing tomorrow at the giant National Sports Stadium, relegation-threatened Shabanie Mine, relegated Bantu Rovers and relegation escapees Highlanders will have a full contingent of players to choose from unless injuries affect them.
Coal miners Hwange, who have a date with a fired up FC Platinum at the Colliery on Sunday, have the highest number of suspended players, three. Nation Dube, their gaffer will miss the services of veteran striker Gilbert Zulu, Takabva Mawaya and hard tackler Munyaradzi Mungadze. FC Platinum will only have young Wisdom Mutasa out of their travelling party to the coal mining town.
According to a PSL communiqué, the 15 suspended players accumulated three yellow cards each which calls for one match suspension while the 16th player, Chiredzi’s goalkeeper Simon Kafitire’s Premiership season ended on Monday when he was given a straight red card by referee Nduna Nkosana during his side’s 1-2 loss to Highlanders at Hartsfield Grounds.
“The player(s) listed hereunder have each accumulated three yellow cards and will be suspended for their club’s match day 29 of the Castle Lager Premier Soccer League matches scheduled for November 8 to 9, 2014,” said the league in the communiqué.
The list has; Victor Bangira (Chapungu), James Jam, Munyaradzi Diro-Nyenye (Harare City), Liberty Chakoroma, Lloyd Katongomara (Buffaloes), Hardlife Zvirekwi (Caps United), Munyaradzi Mungadze, Takabva Mawaya, Gilbert Zulu (Hwange), Hardlife Mavundi (Triangle United), Marvellous Dikinya (Shabanie Mine), Milton Kurewa (Black Rhinos), Brian Mbiriri (Chicken Inn), Wisdom Mutasa (FC Platinum) and Tawanda Mpungu and Simon Kafitire (both Chiredzi).
The weekend might see Zimbabwe’s most successful club, Dynamos being crowned champions for the fourth consecutive time if they manage to beat surprise boys ZPC Kariba tomorrow afternoon while Buffaloes might seal their fate in the elite league with an away victory over Chicken Inn at Hartsfield Grounds tomorrow.
It will be Moses Chunga’s third visit to Bulawayo where he has managed to pick up four points, three from Bantu Rovers when he was still with Chiredzi and a point from Highlanders as Buffaloes gaffer.
A win will take Buffaloes’ points tally to 39, away from the drop zone.
The relegation fight will go on until match day 30 as only two teams, Chiredzi and Bantu Rovers are so far confirmed relegated.
Bantu Rovers take on gold miners How Mine, a team they shocked 3-1 in the first leg at Luveve Stadium. Both coaches, Mandla Lulu Mpofu for Tshintsha Guluva and Luke Masomere for How Mine are confident of a good show tomorrow.
Mpofu said they won’t be any good “neighbourliness” but total football though Masomere is yet to lose a league match since his return to Bulawayo.
Highlanders will be looking for their fourth away victory and second in the second stanza of the league when they travel to the Midlands to face struggling Shabanie Mine at Maglas Stadium in Zvishavane.
Ironically, Bosso’s last away win was in Zvishavane when they beat FC Platinum 1-0 on August 23 at Mandava Stadium. Since then, their trips have been a source of misery to their fans.
However, their confidence got a huge boost on Monday after they beat Chiredzi 2-1 this week. Leading marksman Charles Sibanda is naturally itching to slip away from How Mine’s Kudakwashe Musharu by increasing his goal tally. The Highlanders man is on 12 goals, one more than Musharu.
Online Reporter