DYNAMOS will welcome back defender Patson Jaure from injury for the Castle Lager Premier Soccer League match against a struggling Black Rhinos side at Rufaro Stadium tomorrow.
REPORT BY HENRY MHARA
Kick-off is at 1400hrs and the match will be screened on SuperSport 9.
Jaure missed his club’s clash against Motor Action last week due to an injury he picked in a match against Harare City two weeks ago.
However, team manager Richard Chihoro yesterday revealed that the steady defender has fully recovered and would be available for selection.
Fellow defender Gift Bello, who also missed the Motor Action match after picking a knock in the fateful match, started training on Thursday, but Chihoro said the match had come a bit too early for the small-framed player.
“Patson trained the whole week. He has fully recovered and should be able to play on Sunday,” said Chihoro. “Bello started light training yesterday (Thursday), but will need at least another week to recover before he can play competitively again,” he added.
In contrast, Rhinos, who chalked their third win of the season with a 2-1 win over Triangle last week, announced a clean bill of health.
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Caretaker coach Arthur Tutani said his team, currently sitting on 13th position on the log standings — the relegation cut-off point — was prepared for the “big game.”
“I want to call it a big game because we are playing a big club. It’s not going to be easy against a team who are yet to lose a match this season, but we are going to give it a big fight,” said Tutani.
“We are not in a good position at the moment and we have to start picking up points. It will be a massive match for us especially to some of the players who are making their debut in the Premier League, but I have faith in all my players. I know they can deliver on the big stage. People should come and watch the entertaining soccer that we are going to play.”
Just like Rhinos, Dynamos will go into the match buoyed by their 2-0 win over the Mighty Bulls. The return of leftback Ocean Mushure, midfielder Devon Chafa and striker Patrick Khumbula, who were absent last week due to national team commitments and injury respectively, will also lift the team spirit.
The defending league champions are third on the log standings with 22 points, two behind second-placed Harare City, while log leaders Highlanders are on 26 points.
Rhinos would be banking on the experience of the ageless Lazarus Muhoni while Martin Mine and Walter Masenda are capable of causing trouble for Dynamos.
At Rufaro this afternoon, Caps United coach Taurai Mangwiro said his team would want to win their match against Monomotapa as a wedding present to midfielder Hardlife Zvirekwi, who is set to tie the knot today.
The match will be screened at 1400hrs on SuperSport 9.
Mangwiro, who leads a cast of former Monoz personnel at Caps United, said his team would do it for their midfielder.
“There is no better way of giving him a present than winning the match. He would be very happy to see us winning, the same way we are happy to see him wed. We will do our very best not to spoil his day. We have prepared well and I hope we will win,” said Mangwiro yesterday.
Besides Mangwiro, Caps have in their ranks midfielders Tendai Samanja, Tawanda Munyanduri and striker Tawanda Nyamandwe who made their names playing for Monomotapa, but crossed the floor in January to join the Green Machine.
“Footballers are like journeymen, they are at point A today and they would be at point B tomorrow. It will be a reunion with some of our old friends.
“Personally, I will be reuniting with some of the players I helped to develop to be what they are today and I am really happy to see them doing well. But I also want my current team to do well,” said Mangwiro who spent three-and-a-half years at Monoz.
Besides Zvirekwi, the Green Machine will go into battle without skipper Tapiwa Khumbuyani, who is suspended, George Magariro, who has excused himself to sort out family issues, and Rahman Kutsanzira, who has picked another injury.
Caps are going into the match on the back of a morale-boosting win over FC Platinum last Sunday although they know that Monoz would present a different test altogether. Monoz drew 0-0 with Hwange in their last encounter.
Monoz have the psychological advantage having won the opening fixture last season and the reverse match ended in a goalless draw.
Monoz assistant coach Nkululeko Dhlamini said: “We picked four points against Caps last season and we are looking to better that. We are always aiming high. I think we have done well so far considering that the bulk of the players are new.”
The team welcomes back Hillary Mugoniwa, who has been out in recent weeks due to an injury.
Monomotapa will again look up to their talisman Ronald Chitiyo for inspiration.
