CAPS United skipper Tapiwa Khumbuyani has urged his troops to forget about the nightmare of being pummelled 4-0 by rivals Highlanders in the reverse fixture when the two sides clash in a potentially explosive Premier Soccer League (PSL) encounter at the National Sports Stadium on Sunday.
TAWANDA TAFIRENYIKA SPORTS CORRESPONDENT
High-flying ZPC Kariba, who had initially been scheduled to play Triangle at Gwanzura on Sunday, will now host the Chiredzi outfit on Saturday after the fixture was moved forward to avoid a counter attraction to the big clash pitting two of domestic football powerhouses Caps United and Highlanders.
But still there will also be FC Platinum, one of the most followed teams in the Premiership, facing off rejuvenated Harare City at Rufaro on the same day (Saturday).
Caps United have been out of action in the past week after the PSL cancelled league matches to pave way for the One Wallet Cup final featuring Dynamos and Triangle.
They resumed training on Tuesday but they will be without defender George Nyirenda who is suspended after accumulating three yellow cards.
The Harare giants are however buoyed by their recent 1-0 victory over relegation threatened army side Black Rhinos.
Khumbuyani said they have since put behind them that defeat and were focused on the Sunday match.
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He said they were avoiding putting pressure on themselves and were taking this match like any other.
“We have since forgotten about that (the defeat). We know it happens in football but games change and this is a completely new game. We are relaxed and want to stay focused because we know we have got a chance to win the league title this time around. All we need is to continue winning until the last match of the season and see what happens. We are looking forward to the match against Highlanders,” he said.
Highlanders will be under Mark Mathe, who has taken over from Kelvin Kaindu, for the last six games of the season and the Chibuku Super Cup where they are already in the semi-finals.
Mathe was in control when Highlanders taught Caps United a harsh football lesson –when romping to a 4-0 victory in the clubs’ first meeting of the season in May. Kaindu was away attending a coaching course in the UK.
In that match the Bulawayo giants scored twice in each half through Rahman Kutsanzira, Ozias Zibande, Kuda Mahachi and Cleopas Dube, who has now joined Witbank Spurs in the South Africa National First Division.
Mahachi has returned to his parent club Mamelodi Sundowns, while Zibande has little game time of late and will be looking to return to the starting line-up.
Matchday 25 suspended players
Danny Phiri-Chicken Inn Richard Kawondera-Triangle Anesu Gondo-Dynamos Thabani Kamusoko-FC Platinum George Nyirenda-Caps United Peter Muzondo-ZPC Kariba
