Quelaton fire four players

Parting ways with the Bulawayo-based side are goalkeeper Lovemore Makwavarara who has already penned a deal with former Cup Kings, Caps United, Dalubuhle Maphosa, Amani Makiwa and Jefias Muzenda who has retraced his steps back to New West City.

Joining the sinking ship with the duty of saving it are nomadic veteran player Chipo Tsodzo who has played in literally every position except as a goalkeeper, Simbarashe Manwere, Tapiwa Marime, Peace Tshuma, Thulani Moyo, Tatenda Magaisa, Ndumiso Khanye and Andrew Sidambe.

“We hope these guys will help us survive the dreaded chop and as a club we don’t doubt their capabilities,” said club director Tawanda Ruzive.

Rejected by Highlanders, Khanye will add some grit to the defence which has nevertheless been playing well while Tsodzo is likely going to be used as a striker in what is surely a huge task.

Quelaton need to win a minimum of 10 games to have any hopes of surviving.

That road to survival starts on Sunday at Barbourfields Stadium with a date against log leaders Highlanders, themselves under a lot of pressure to start collecting maximum points.

Quelaton have won just two games and drawn a similar number but an administrative boob by the team management saw them fielding a suspended player, Zibusiso Sibanda, for their game against Motor Action which they still lost 3-0 at Luveve Stadium. To add insult to injury the PSL disciplinary committee docked three points and fined them $5 000 for the offence.

Coach Philani Beefy Ncube has not been attending training sessions due to a severe toothache. The team has been under Simba Rusike and Farai Sibanda who led the team to its maiden win after then head coach Thulani Sibanda was fired for poor results.

“I will however attend the session tomorrow,” said Ncube during a brief interview yesterday.
Rusike has already promised Highlanders a good run for their money although conceding that it would not be a stroll in the park.

Highlanders coach Kelvin Kaindu is also aware of the difficulties associated with a derby but believes they have done their part to counter any moves by Quelaton.

“Playing a derby is always tricky but I think we saw how they played against us the last time and I believe we have come up with a solution to counter that. We are busy working on how to contain them but at the end of the day a derby is always a derby with the boys keen to outsmart each other,” said the soft-spoken and god-fearing Bosso mentor.

He ruled out any automatic inclusion for the new boys saying just like everyone in the team, they have to impress at training.

Highlanders offloaded two players — defender Tendai Ndlovu and midfielder Munyaradzi Tongai — while registering Takunda Sadiki and Cleopas Dube, a striker acquired from ZPC (Hwange). Sadiki has been training with the team all along and missed the first registration period. Kaindu believes Dube is a future player who still has to be moulded but if he impresses, he might make his debut. At ZPC (Hwange) the player scored nine goals in 11 games.

“The two boys have to impress at training and if they don’t, then they just have to wait for another day,” said Kaindu who ruled out any pressure on his team, especially in view of their worst enemies, Dynamos’ form.

“A win for Dynamos against FC Platinum will not in any way put pressure on us. That result will be theirs and their followers’, nothing else. What we are worried about as Highlanders is our result, so we are not under pressure at all,” said Kaindu.

Meanwhile, Chicken Inn coach Adam Ndlovu, who has done fairly well in his maiden season in full charge of the team, said his boys are ready to shake off the dust after a two-week break as they take on giant-killers Harare City at Luveve Stadium tomorrow.

“We are ready to go and the rest will take care of itself. Harare City are a good side but we prepared well for them,” said Adamski.

He said new acquisition and former FC Platinum player Ntokozo Tshuma will be in the team while Moodley Njeleza is with the Bulawayo Youth Games team that leaves for Bindura today.

Ndlovu said they were aware of the danger posed by Harare City under Bigboy Mawiwi but as Chicken Inn, they would try and focus on their weaknesses and pounce.

Fixtures
Saturday: FC Platinum v Dynamos (Mandava), Chicken Inn v Harare City (Luveve), Monomotapa v Motor Action (Rufaro), Black Mambas v Blue Rangers (Morris Depot).

Sunday: Buffaloes v Hardbody (Sakubva), Highlanders v Quelaton (BF), Shabanie Mine v Gunners (Maglas), Hwange v CAPS United (Colliery).