The Castle Lager Premier Soccer League (PSL) returns to action this afternoon after boycott threats by match officials, with Dynamos taking on Motor Action in a crunch match at Rufaro Stadium.
The match will be screened live by South Africa’s pay-per-view channel, Supersport 9 at 1500hrs.
Today’s full fixture programme was under threat from referees who threatened to boycott the match after they were snubbed on Sunday in the Mbada Diamonds Cup semi-finals.
Zifa and the PSL confirmed yesterday match officials would be available although they demanded a full investigation into alleged corruption and match-fixing. Back on the field of play, the Dynamos duo of captain George Magariro and midfielder Tawanda Muparati are expected to return to the team to face Motor Action.
The two players missed their team’s sensational 1-0 win over FC Platinum in the Mbada Diamonds Cup semi-final at Barbourfields Stadium three days ago.
Muparati was attending to a family bereavement while Magariro was nursing a knee injury. Dynamos assistant coach Tonderai Ndiraya confirmed the two players will be up for selection.
“We expect all players at training this afternoon (yesterday) where we will assess their condition,” said Ndiraya yesterday.
“Tawanda should be fine, but we will have to check him if he is psychologically fit for the match. He is coming from a very bad situation. As for George, he had some light training last week and he should be fit, but he will have to be certified by the team doctor,” said Ndiraya.
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However, Ndiraya said David Kutyauripo is a major doubt after he picked up an injury at Barbourfields.
Today’s match seems to have come too early for combative midfielder Milton Makopa who is battling with a hamstring problem.
Ndiraya said Makopa might return for the decisive clash against log leaders FC Platinum at Mandava on Sunday.
Dynamos lie on second position on the log with 49 points, three shy of FC Platinum.
Wobbling Motor Action, who will, however, come into this match on the back of a morale-boosting win over Zimbabwe Saints in the Mbada Diamonds Cup semi-final, said they were ready to shock Dynamos.
Save for a commendable run in the Mbada Diamonds Cup, the defending champions have been struggling in the league, picking just five points from their last seven matches to remain on third position, but a massive seven points off the log leaders.
The Mighty Bulls star midfielder Allen Gahadzikwa admitted his team was out of the league race. “The chances of retaining the league are now slim, but we will want to finish on a high.
Dynamos will be under pressure because they have a better chance of winning the title, and we will have to capitalise on that.
We have to win all our remaining matches and hope for the best in other matches involving leading teams. We want to shock Dynamos,” said Gahadzikwa.
Motor Action will go into the match without their reliable defender Reuben Machaya who is still serving a two-match ban after receiving a red card in their last match.
