HIGHLANDERS Football Club striker Cleopas Dube has warned FC Platinum that they will fight to the end when the two sides meet in the Zimbabwe National Army Charities Soccer Shield semi-final at Barbourfields Stadium tomorrow.
RONALD MOYO
With forwards Milton Ncube and Kuda Mahachi out of the tie due to national team commitments, and Ozias Zibande and Charles Sibanda also doubtful due to injuries, Dube might get the nod against FC Platinum.
The Bosso striker said his teammates were aware that a convincing win against the Zvishavane side might get the team back to the winning ways after last Sunday’s 1-1 draw against ZPC Kariba in the Castle Lager Premiership.
The 24-year-old striker, who opened his goal-scoring account early this season compared to the previous season, also said they were working hard to cover the gap that Njabulo Ncube left when he crossed to Platinum.
Since Ncube left Bosso, the team has been lacking that killer instinct in front of goal, although Zibande has emerged as a ray of hope for the Bulawayo giants.
“We have to win this match at all costs. Winning against FC Platinum will help us go back to the winning formula, considering that we are just coming from a draw. As strikers, we are trying our best to fill the gap left by Njabulo [Ncube] in the team.
“We were learning from him as a senior player, but he decided to leave. So we have to be up to the task and score goals for Bosso. I started scoring early this season and I know with enough game time, I will score more goals for the team,” Dube said.
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The Bosso striker, who was on loan to Zifa Southern Region Division One side Plumtree Chiefs for the second half of last season, has been starting from the bench, but has made an impact.
Dube scored his only league goal in a 4-0 routing of Caps United at BF, scoring the last goal from his second touch of the afternoon after coming in as an 80th minute substitute, replacing Zibande.
FC Platinum head coach Lloyd Mutasa said the return of Ncube from injury would be a boost for his side.
“We are hoping for a good game. Njabulo is returning from an injury. So we are expecting him to carry the team. He got injured when we were playing against Chiredzi, so from there, he has not been playing until last week,” Mutasa said.
Although they have a poor start to the 2014 season, the Zvishavane-based outfit has bagged the CG Msipa Charity Cup and the Independence Trophy after beating Dynamos in a dramatic encounter that ended on a penalty shoot-out.
