adminLovemore Zigara, Sports Correspondent
STRUGGLING Air Force of Zimbabwe outfit, Chapungu are hoping to register their second Castle Lager Premier Soccer League victory of the season when they play host to troubled Dynamos at Ascot Stadium, Gweru this afternoon. Chapungu, just like Dynamos have had an indifferent start to the 2016 season, managing seven points from eight games, compared to the 12 points that they had amassed at this stage last season.
The Gweru outfit are sitting on a precarious position 14, a place above the drop zone and a defeat against Dynamos this afternoon followed by Mutare City Rovers’ victory over Bulawayo City at Sakubva Stadium tomorrow will see the airmen going down to position 15. Injuries have also not spared Chapungu but coach John Nyikadzino believes they have enough arsenal to add misery on Dynamos.
The Harare giants are also not far away from the danger zone as their paltry eight points have left them on position 12, just two points above Rovers who occupy the other relegation slot, position 15. Chapungu are aware that a victory against Dynamos who beat them over both legs last season, 0-1 at Ascot and 0-2 in Harare will push them up the ladder.
Nyikadzino is fretting over injured skipper Phillip Marufu whose availability is subject to passing a late fitness test. He wouldn’t want the veteran striker to miss the clash.
Already ruled out because of injuries are winger Nhlanhla Ncube and central midfielder Maxwell Mavuto. Chapungu will be praying that Marufu passes the test so that he can lead their strike force.
“We’ve prepared well for the match but our only worry is four of our players are still sidelined nursing injuries but we hope that Ngoni Murisa and Phillip Marufu pass late fitness tests for the match. Besides that, all other players are in camp, looking forward to the match. We desperately need maximum points so that we better our position on the log standings. We know Dynamos are a big club but we’re ready to fight them,” added Nyikadzino.
The Chapungu gaffer said he has been working on finishing and is hoping that his strikers Allan Tavarwisa and Agrippa Peperere will come to the party.
Knowing that Dynamos’ under-pressure interim coach Lloyd Mutasa wants a win today to keep his chances of being appointed as a substantive gaffer at DeMbare, Nyikadzino will have to be tactically superior to his opposite number.
Dynamos go into today’s match smarting from a 0-2 home defeat to perennial rivals Highlanders and are hard pressed for a victory to lift their confidence. Without goalkeeper Tatenda Mukuruva who is with the Warriors competing at the Cosafa Senior Men’s Challenge tournament in Namibia, Ashley Rayners is likely to get his first start of the season.
Dynamos are also without central defender Elisha Muroiwa who is on national duty. The Harare giants’ hopes will be pinned on defenders Ocean Mushure and Sydney Linyama, midfielders Stephen Alimenda, Bret Amidu and Masimba Mambare and strikers Roderick Mutuma as well as Evans Gwekwerere to lead them to victory.
While Chapungu and Dynamos will be doing battle at Ascot, title favourites FC Platinum will be home in Zvishavane for a date with ZPC Kariba. FC Platinum will be hoping to extend their season’s unbeaten run to nine matches against the electricity generators who’ve also been playing well. In Bulawayo, Tsholotsho FC and How Mine clash in a derby with the miners favourites to win.
Tsholotsho are coming from an energy sapping 0-1 loss to anchors Border Strikers and will want a positive result against the miners who held FC Platinum to a 0-0 draw a fortnight ago.
PSL Week Nine Fixtures:
Saturday: FC Platinum v ZPC Kariba (Mandava), Tsholotsho FC v How Mine (White City), Ngezi Platinum Stars v Harare City (Baobab), Chapungu v Dynamos (Ascot)
Sunday: Mutare City Rovers v Bulawayo City (Sakubva), Caps United v Triangle United (National Sports Stadium), *Highlanders v Border Strikers (Barbourfields, POSTPONED), *Hwange v Chicken Inn (Colliery, POSTPONED)
*Matches postponed due to three or more players called for national team assignments.
derick.khumalo