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Akbay laments Kangwa absence

Sport
Highlanders coach Erol Akbay has lamented the absence of utility player Bruce Kangwa ahead of the ZNA Charities Shield final against Harare City at Barbourfields Stadium on Sunday.

Highlanders coach Erol Akbay has lamented the absence of utility player Bruce Kangwa ahead of the ZNA Charities Shield final against Harare City at Barbourfields Stadium on Sunday.

BY Fortune Mbele

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Kangwa is away in Tanzania where he is trying to sort out a future with Azam FC.

The Dutch coach said an in-form Kangwa can make a huge difference on his own and would have aided Bosso’s bid for the first silverware this season.

The 28-year-old, who was reinvented from a left-back to a striker by Akbay, has been revelling in his new role where he has scored seven goals, the highest tally by an individual in the league so far this season.

He scored the solitary strike that helped Highlanders condemn stubborn Caps United to their second defeat of the season on Sunday at Barbourfields.

“The absence of Kangwa will, of course, have an impact. You saw last Sunday that he made it very difficult for the opponents and if you can do that as one player, then you must be really good. I will definitely miss him very much,” Akbay said.

While he would wish to see Kangwa progress in his career, Akbay is making it no secret that he is not happy to lose his best player.

“It’s his first time go out of the country and I am very happy for him, but obviously as a coach, I would have loved to keep him at Highlanders, but for him it must be a move he has been waiting for. Why should I be happy if I lose one of my best players? No coach can be happy with this situation. He is a very good player and I hope he takes his performance to Tanzania. I hope he makes it there,” Akbay said.

With Kangwa’s absence and key players still injured, Akbay is likely to employ the same game plan against the Moses Chunga-coached Harare City – play a defensive game and trying to catch them on the break.

Right-back Benson Phiri and left-back Honest Moyo are still out injured with Rahman Kutsanzira also ruled out.

Akbay is likely to play King Nadolo, Adrian Silla, Gabriel Nyoni and Prince Dube in attack.

Highlanders welcome back skipper Felix Chindungwe, who missed the Caps United match due to suspension.

The winners of the final walk away with $20 000 and both coaches Akbay and Chunga are eyeing their first silverware of the season.