Sidumisile Mabena
Fungai Muderere
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HIGHLANDERS face a race against time to restore calm ahead of Sunday’s blockbuster clash against Dynamos after players staged a fourth consecutive day of training absence at White City B Arena on Friday.
The standoff has disrupted preparations for the highly anticipated Barbourfields Stadium encounter, leaving coach Benjani Mwaruwari hopeful that ongoing engagements with players will help bring the crisis to an end.
“We need to prepare the whole week for a game over the weekend. But if we don’t train, a lot of things can go wrong,” said Mwaruwari.
The Bosso gaffer revealed that negotiations were still underway in a bid to persuade players to return to training before the match.
“We still have to negotiate and try and see if we can persuade them to train and play this game,” he added.
Sources indicated that after meeting Mwaruwari, team manager Zenzo Moyo and other members of the technical team, the players were expected to resume training at Barbourfields Stadium late Thursday afternoon.
However, concerns remain within the Highlanders camp, with sources close to the dressing room suggesting that frustrations over unresolved issues have not completely disappeared.
Despite the uncertainty, Mwaruwari remains optimistic.
“It’s difficult to even look for three points when we haven’t trained for the whole week. But the game has to be played,” he said.
With the countdown to kickoff underway, Bosso supporters will be hoping the club’s off-field troubles do not overshadow one of Zimbabwean football’s biggest fixtures.
-@FungaiMuderere
Online Reporter