Leading goalscorer Nelson Mazivisa will be the man to watch when Shabanie Mine face Monomotapa in a Castle Lager Premier Soccer League match at Maglas Stadium tomorrow.
Mazivisa has hit nine goals in 10 matches, subsequently earning a call-up to the national team that was preparing for last Sunday’s 2013 Africa Cup of Nations second leg qualifier against Burundi.
The Luke Masomere-coached side brew a shocker by beating Hwange 4-1 at the Colliery in the last league matches played. Mazivisa grabbed a brace in that match.
Masomere yesterday told NewsDay Sport that he was anticipating a tough contest against Monomotapa tomorrow.
“We are expecting a very tough match against Monomotapa, but we have prepared well. They are a very good side and have a good coach as well. We need luck to win against Monomotapa because they are an organised side,” said Masomere.
“I am not worried about our position on the log table, but our focus is on the game against Monomotapa,” he said.
The Zvishavane-based side is third on the log table with 18 points from 10 games while Monomotapa are on position eight with 17 points from 10 games.
Monomotapa coach Taurai Mangwiro declared his side’s readiness for the match.
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“We are fancying our chances against Shabanie Mine. Only a point separates us from them. Shabanie Mine are buoyed by the fact that we lost 5-1 to Hwange at the Colliery before they beat Hwange 4-1 at home. But this is a new game altogether as we also expect a good result.
“We have done fairly well, but we need to improve our away record because we lost 3-0 to Highlanders and 5-1 to Hwange,” said Mangwiro.
Monomotapa beat Blue Rangers 1-0 in their last league encounter. Tawanda Nyamandwe,Kudakwashe Musharu, Brian Mapfumo, Tendai Ngulube, Obey Mwerahari and Russell Madamombe are at Mangwiro’s disposal.
Shabanie Mine will look up to Francis Kanda, Raymond Sibanda, Rodney Mware and Tarisai Rukanda. They will be missing Area Phiri through injury while Ronald Chitiyo and Wonder Kapinda are also out through injury.
In other matches this weekend, leaders Highlanders travel to Harare tomorrow to face former champions Motor Action.
The Bulawayo giants lead the standings with 23 points from nine matches and if they avoid a loss, they will equal Methembe Ndlovu’s 2006 start that led to the league title.
Chicken Inn welcome back captain Herbert Dick from suspension as they face Hwange at Luveve while Harare City, 1-0 victors over Dynamos on Wednesday, entertain Black Mambas at Gwanzura Stadium.
Tomorrow, resurgent Caps United have a date with high- riding Buffaloes at the National Sports Stadium, Quelaton face Hardbody at Luveve while second-placed FC Platinum travel to Harare for a date against Blue Rangers at Gwanzura.
Rangers are still to formalise their name change to WWS Rangers after a takeover last month.
Platinum will have Warriors interim coach Rahman Gumbo back in the dugout after three weeks of national duty and will be looking at keeping the pressure on Highlanders.
In their only match in the last three weeks, Platinum beat Quelaton 2-0 at home with assistant coach Tendai Chikuni taking charge.
