CAPS United were yesterday dealt a huge blow after the Premier Soccer League (PSL) announced the suspension of their star defender Stephen Makatuka (pictured), who will miss the team’s blockbuster clash against Highlanders set for the National Sports Stadium on Sunday.
BY HENRY MHARA/FORTUNE MBELE
Kick-off is 1600hrs.
The tough-tackling defender, who is perhaps the main reason for Caps United’s bright start to the season this far, is suspended for the match after accumulating three yellow cards.
It’s the kind of news that the third-placed Caps United least expected at this stage of the season in their bid to win the league title in a decade.
The Green Machine would have wanted to have their best possible arsenal for this crucial match which they are desperate to win for two big reasons.
A win would be a good reprisal for their 1-0 loss in the reverse fixture, but more importantly, victory here would see the Lloyd Chitembwe-coached side leapfrogging their opponents on Sunday to second position.
Chitembwe’s assistant Tostao Kwashi described Makatuka’s absence, together with that of striker Leonard Tsipa, who is also suspended after picking a red card in the two teams’ clash a fortnight ago, as a blow, but certainly not a train smash.
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“The person who will come in will probably deliver better, so a hero is waiting to be made on Sunday. It’s an opportunity for someone to shine. It’s a window for another player to come and steal the show,” Kwashi said.
“The preparations have gone well, we have prepared like any normal game. The players are working hard and we put God first so He can lead us the right way, like He always does. This match is very important to us and its outcome could have a bearing on where the title could land at the end of the season.
“But we will not overhype the game, we will just go out there and put up a professional performance. Both teams have been doing well so far and just that can make a good recipe for an exciting battle on Sunday. We hope the guys will go out there and stand up for the Caps United badge.”
Highlanders come to Harare on the back of a lifeless midweek performance in the goalless draw that saw them missing the opportunity to topple log leaders FC Platinum.
However, they would be boosted by the news that attacking midfielder Allen Gahadzikwa could play his first game for them, interestingly, against his former paymasters after completing his move to the Bulawayo side this week.
Coach Erol Akbay said they were now waiting for his clearance from the PSL which they were expecting to come through anytime.
“If his papers are done I will try him this Sunday,” Akbay said.
While Gahadzikwa appears to be a done deal and the 30-year-old set for his debut against a team that never gave him a chance to show what he is capable of, but Highlanders yesterday confirmed they had hit a snag in their pursuit for former player Milton Ncube.
The left-back, who was released by Ajax Cape Town, was rumoured to be retracing his footsteps to Bosso, but it has emerged that they have been outbid by city rivals How Mine.
Gahadzikwa could be the man they need to inject some experience into the squad after they lost Knox Mutizwa and Bruce Kangwa to Bidvest Wits of South Africa and Azam FC (Tanzania) respectively.
It is the absence of Kangwa though that appears to be hitting Highlanders hard. He scored the solitary goal in the win against Caps United, which was his last match for Bosso, and since then, the team has played two matches and has failed to score a goal on both occasions.
However, Akbay is still optimistic of posting a positive result. “I now know how Caps United play and that means for me it’s now easy to set up a game plan, my tactics and system of play. The only problem is that we have too many young players in our team and they can play good football for an hour, but fizzle out in the last 30 minutes. I will have to try and make sure that all the young players don’t lose concentration throughout the game. I think we have a good chance,” Akbay said. Meanwhile, Dynamos will also miss captain Steven Alimenda for their trip to ZPC Kariba through suspension. Tafadzwa Kutinyu will also be sidelined for champions Chicken Inn’s match against Harare City for similar reasons.
Castle Lager Premier Soccer League fixtures Tomorrow: How Mine v Border Strikers (Luveve), ZPC Kariba v Dynamos (Nyamhunga), Bulawayo City v FC Platinum (Barbourfields), Mutare City Rovers v Chapungu (Sakubva) Sunday: Hwange v Tsholotsho FC (Colliery), Chicken Inn v Harare City (Luveve), Triangle v Ngezi Platinum Stars (Gibbo), Caps United v Highlanders (National Sports Stadium, 1600hrs)
