GOALKEEPER Ariel Sibanda, who missed Highlanders’ match against How Mine at the weekend after he was given a week off, is back in the fold for the team’s match against Border Strikers in a rescheduled Castle Lager Premier Soccer League match Barbourfields Stadium this afternoon.
BY FORTUNE MBELE
Sibanda was granted leave to attend to family issues during Highlanders’ break when they had striker Prince Dube, Bruce Kangwa and King Nadolo on national duty.
Bosso, however, will be without midfielder Rahman Kutsanzira, who pulled out injured in the first half of the game against How Mine and coach Erol Akbay yesterday said the player had been ruled out for two weeks.
Kutsanzira has been instrumental in Highlanders’ midfield and he is likely to be replaced by King Nadolo, who came in from the bench against the gold miners.
Young Adrian Silla, who has struck a partnership with Dube, could be another option for Highlanders in attack.
“Ariel is back and is available for the game tomorrow (today), but we are without Kutsanzira and I think he will be out for the next two weeks. Otherwise we will play our normal game against Border Strikers, a team I have no idea on how they play,” Akbay said.
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On prospects of rising to the top of the log standings if they beat struggling Border Strikers, the Dutchman said: “It might be easy to go on top, but it is very difficult to stay there.”
Highlanders are third with 20 points, a point behind Caps United and ZPC Kariba, but with a game in hand.
They will play their 11th match of the season at home against the in-form Sunday Chidzambwa-coached ZPC Kariba at the weekend.
Border Strikers coach, Saul Chaminuka said his side was looking forward to their second win of the season against Highlanders.
The Beitbridge-based side has one win in nine matches, having played all of their home matches, bar the one against Chapungu last week, at Maglas Stadium.
“We are coming to Bulawayo and I am looking forward to my second win of the season. When we won our first game, it was on a Wednesday and maybe we have our luck with midweek games. We are going to give Highlanders a good run for their money,” Chaminuka said.
Prince Sibanda scored the solitary goal when they beat Tsholotsho at Maglas on May 25 and Border Strikers have only scored two goals in nine outings, with William Nyoni scoring the face-saver against Chapungu on Sunday.
