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Tadious Manyepo Sports Reporter
AMBITIOUS Castle Lager Premier Soccer League side Yadah are set to make history by becoming the first Zimbabwean club to have Brazilian players do duty for them when they face Chicken Inn at Baobab this afternoon.
The Prophetic Healing and Deliverance Ministries side unveiled three Brazilian players at Yadah Hotel on Friday last week but their papers were not yet ready for them to feature in the match against FC Platinum last weekend.
Yadah won that game 1-0 after outplaying the miners at Mandava with the Brazilian trio who include Marques Pedro, Pereira Deivid and Luciano Farias watching from the terraces.
But the club leadership has been running around and they have managed to get clearances for the three to start playing in the local league.
And coach Expense Chitukutuku has revealed that he will throw them in today’s showdown against Chicken Inn.
“I have been praying for their papers to be processed early. I am very happy they are now available for selection. They will feature in the match against Chicken Inn at Baobab,” said Chitukutuku.
The trio was tested in Yadah’s practice matches against ZRP Harare at Hellenic Sports Club on Thursday.
They all showed some good glimpses with Deivid playing in central defence while Pedro and Farias deployed at right-back and central midfield respectively.
Chitukutuku said their availability has boosted Yadah’s status as a force in the local league.
“We are a team that thrives on playing possession based football. Brazilians also have a knack to pass the ball around. So our philosophy has been reinforced by their coming.
“I should say I am very impressed with the way THE Brazilians are performing so far at training. They are bringing a lot with themselves and if we manage to create some chemistry with the guys who are already at the team, I tell you we will be a well-oiled machine.
“They can play any position and that’s how talented they are. I am impressed with the way they play. They are team builders and the players have really been welcoming.
“Chicken Inn is a big team and they can beat anyone anywhere. We are alive to that. We are going into this match as the underdogs really. But we are a club which is also capable of beating anyone.
“I foresee a very entertaining match at Baobab on Saturday (today).”.
Elsewhere, CAPS United host Triangle at Bata this afternoon looking to carry from where they left last week when they beat another Lowveld side Greenuel 2-0 at the same venue.
Makepekepe believe they have recovered from a difficult phase they went through before that game, which had seen them failing to win in five outings.
Defender Ben Musaka told journalists during a pre-match press conference that Makepekepe are up for the fight against Triangle.
“We went through a barren phase as a team,” said Musaka.
“We believe all teams go through that phase at some point and I feel it’s a blessing in disguise that it came earlier in the season.
“We have been working hard and as the coach (Lloyd Chitembwe) said It wasn’t about the performance or anything like that but I think it was more of the mental side. But I think we are heading in the right direction now.
Dynamos are away to Gibbo where they date Greenfuel while Herentals travel to face Bulawayo Chiefs at Luveve.
Cranborne Bullets and Ngezi Platinum Stars face-off at Nyamhunga to conclude today’s Castle Lager Premier Soccer League business.
Action resumes tomorrow with log leaders Highlanders facing yet another stern test against Jairos Tapera’s Manica Diamonds at Barbourfields while Sheasham and Black Rhinos tussle for bragging rights at Bata.
Simba Bhora face ZPC Kariba at Baobab and Hwange host FC Platinum at the Colliery.
Fixtures
Today
Greenfuel v Dynamos (Gibbo)
Yadah v Chicken Inn (Baobab)
Cranborne Bullets v Ngezi Platinum (Nyamhunga)
Bulawayo Chiefs v Herentals (Luveve)
CAPS United v Triangle (Bata)
Tomorrow
Highlanders v Manica Diamonds (B/F)
Sheasham v Black Rhinos (Bata)
Simba Bhora v ZPC Kariba (Baobab)
Hwange v FC Platinum (Colliery)
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