Tshiki returns to B/F

Sikhumbuzo Moyo Senior Sports Reporter
FC Platinum striker Njabulo “Tshiki” Ncube will play his first game against his former club Highlanders when the Bulawayo giants clash with the Zvishavane outfit in a pre-season friendly at Barbourfields Stadium on Sunday.Both teams’ coaches have said they will give their new acquisitions some game time with Ncube and the three Canadian players at Highlanders likely to attract some attention from the fans and opposition players.

Highlanders could also try the long awaited Joel Ngodzo-Kudakwashe Mahachi combination in midfield. Ncube, Bosso’s top goalscorer last season, left the club for the platinum miners 24 hours before a windfall came the way of the Bulawayo giants in January when principal sponsors BancABC released about $100,000 in players’ signing-on fees.

He had refused to take the club’s word that money was on its way, demanding cash on the table.
“This is an opportune time for the new guys to prove themselves as we assess how they are gelling with the rest of the players in the team,” said FC Platinum coach Lloyd Mutasa, who hit the jackpot when he brought on board then Champions League bound Gift Bello from Dynamos.

The move shocked the Dynamos family resulting in their chairman, Kenny Mubaiwa describing the 2013 Castle Lager Soccer Star of the Year finalist as a rebel.
Highlanders’ stand-in coach Mark Mathe also said the match would afford them an opportunity to have a look at the new recruits, including the three North American players.

“They will definitely get some game time, including those who did not play in the Bob90 Super Cup semi-final against Harare City,” said Mathe.
On the match itself, Mathe said it was important for the supporters to appreciate that the team is still in its infancy as they were still looking at the many aspects of the game.

“What we will not hide is that we want to instill a winning mentality among the players,” said Mathe.
Like Bigboy Mawiwi, the Harare City coach, Mutasa said playing against a seemingly star-studded Highlanders would give his camp a perfect yardstick to measure their preparedness for the 2014 soccer season.

“Without doubt playing Highlanders on Sunday will be good for us. It will help us to see how we are moving in terms of our preparations but of course we want to get a positive result,” said the soft-spoken Mutasa.

Meanwhile, Highlanders secretary Andrew Tapela said gate charges would be pegged at $3 for the rest of the ground, $5 on the wings and those that want to sit in the VIP tribune would part with $10.

Just over 8,000 fans made their way to the stadium in the Bob90 semi-final tie last Sunday.