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Suspensions deal Bosso blow

Sport
HIGHLANDERS will miss two key players for the EasyCall Cup final against Chicken Inn with veteran striker Obadiah Tarumbwa and central defender Erick Mudzingwa suspended for the much-anticipated clash match at Barbourfields Stadium on Sunday.

HIGHLANDERS will miss two key players for the EasyCall Cup final against Chicken Inn with veteran striker Obadiah Tarumbwa and central defender Erick Mudzingwa suspended for the much-anticipated clash match at Barbourfields Stadium on Sunday.

BY FORTUNE MBELE

The two players have accumulated two yellow cards each with Tarumbwa picking up his second on Sunday in the semi-final, which could have been avoided since he was cautioned by referee Ruzive Ruzive while sitting on the bench after he had been substituted.

bosso

He got the first in the 1-0 win over FC Palatinum in the quarter-final at Mandava Stadium.

Mudzingwa also picked up the two yellow cards in the two matches.

Tarumbwa was in the technical team’s plans all week until the message from the Premier Soccer League that he was banned was conveyed yesterday.

In the absence of Tarumbwa, Bosso could replace him with Ralph Matema, while at the back they can fill in Mudzingwa’s void with either Honest Moyo or Teenage Hadebe to partner skipper Felix Chindungwe in central defence.

Chief gunman Knox Mutizwa was expected back in the country yesterday from South Africa.

Bosso technical adviser Cosmas Zulu said they would go into Sunday’s match as underdogs and the GameCocks would be under pressure for a double being the league champions. “It is really good because we go into that game as underdogs. We will go there and play our normal game. It is them (Chicken Inn) who are under pressure. They want a double and we just want the trophy,” he said.

His counterpart at Chicken Inn, Joey Antipas, said all is well in his camp and he goes into the match with a clean bill of health.

“Both of us (Highlanders and Chicken Inn) are under pressure. We want to do a double and they want to win the trophy and appease their fans. We will just try and execute our game plan,” Antipas said.

Meanwhile, Highlanders chief executive officer Ndumiso Gumede yesterday said they were still pursuing their targets in the hope of appointing a substantive coach.

Dutchman Elroy Akbay remains a frontrunner for the job, but the club could allow caretaker coach Amini Soma-Phiri and Zulu to remain in charge next season.

Addressing journalists yesterday, Gumede said Highlanders were still in the process of trying to bring in a substantive coach, but hinted on Soma-Phiri and Zulu taking charge.

“Work is still in progress to find a coach. We had already set a motion to look for a substantive coach and we have to go through it. If it fails, we know that we have very good back- up,” Gumede said.

“We have very dependable back-up and Zulu and Amini have done exceptionally well and we are very grateful. They have been part of this establishment, so they will still be available if option one fails and, of course, it is not automatic that the new lad will just walk in. There are so many hurdles ahead,” he added.