Two Castle Lager Premier Soccer League (PSL) matches set for Bulawayo have been postponed due to security concerns. The match pitting Tsholotsho and Mutare City Rovers which was set for Luveve Stadium this afternoon, as well as Highlanders’ clash with Triangle at Barbourfields tomorrow, will not take place this weekend.
BY Kevin Mapasure
The PSL released a statement late yesterday advising of the postponement of the matches.
“This serves to advise that the following PSL fixtures have been postponed – Tsholotsho FC versus Mutare City Rovers and Highlanders FC versus Triangle United FC. The fixtures have been postponed following security advice from the Zimbabwe Republic Police. The fixtures will be rescheduled in due course.”
This follows the postponement of another match on Wednesday pitting Chicken and FC Platinum after violence erupted in parts of Bulawayo following political protests.
On Wednesday, workers staged a stayaway which saw running battles between protesters and police in Bulawayo and some parts of the country.
Police in Bulawayo are still hesitant at people gathering and want to continue monitoring the situation. By late yesterday, all other matches were still on as scheduled with Caps United clashing with FC Platinum this afternoon. .
Caps United midfielder Archford Gutu will miss today’s crucial match in Zvishavane owing to illness, but the Green Machine have been boosted by the return of striker Leonard Tsipa.
- Chamisa under fire over US$120K donation
- Mavhunga puts DeMbare into Chibuku quarterfinals
- Pension funds bet on Cabora Bassa oilfields
- Councils defy govt fire tender directive
Keep Reading
The Harare giants did not enjoy the best of preparations with coach Lloyd Chitembwe being absent for the greater part of the week due to illness, while some of the players only returned to training yesterday as they were recovering from knocks.
But things brightened up for Caps United where they had all the players training with the exception of Gutu and Kudzai Nyamupfukudza, who is also carrying a knock.
Nyamupfukudza is also ruled out of the match where Caps will be all out for maximum points after last week’s setback, after dropping points in a home draw against Hwange.
Team manager Shakespeare Chinogwenya yesterday confirmed that Caps would miss Gutu and Nyamupfukudza.
“We had all the players training today (yesterday) except for Gutu who is struggling with a stomach ailment, while Nyamupfukudza has not recovered from injury,” he said.
“But everyone else is fit and raring to go and Tsipa has also recovered and is back in the squad.”
The championship-chasing side lost former captain Method Mwanjali to Tanzanian outfit Simba SC, while goalkeeper Chris Mverechena has been loaned out to Ngezi Platinum.
One point separates FC Platinum and Caps with the former enjoying a slight advantage having also played a game less.
FC Platinum have two points less than log leaders Highlanders and they will be looking to close in on the Bulawayo giants and stretch advantage over Caps United.
The match pitting Mapeza and Caps United coach Lloyd Chitembwe is the pick of the crop this weekend which pits former team mates at Darryn T, who have remained friends.
Mapeza was in the coaching structures at Caps in 2003 when Caps United coach Lloyd Chitembwe was still playing, so the two know quite a lot about each other.
It will be interesting to see who manages to outwit the other.
Both are under the spotlight this season with a lot expected of them in a season where their fans and bosses will be demanding the league championship. Since pre-season, Chitembwe has been waxing lyrical about his squad which he believes has got so much quality and he would have set himself his standards this term.
But he goes up against a side that thrives on starving its opponents of possession, but Chitembwe will not be worried so much about that if his team’s grit can carry the day for them.
Both clubs have lost once each so far this season with Caps’ defeat coming against How Mine while Sunday Chidzambwa’s ZPC Kariba is the only team to have taken maximum points against FC Platinum so far.
FC Platinum’s defence has been the tighter one, conceding just five goals in comparison to Caps’ nine, but the Green Machine have had better penetration up front where they have scored 18 goals. Castle Lager Premier Soccer League fixtures
Today: FC Platinum v Caps United (Mandava), Chapungu v Chicken Inn (Ascot), Harare City v How Mine (Rufaro), Ngezi Platinum v ZPC Kariba (Baobab).
Tomorrow: Hwange v Bulawayo City (Colliery), Dynamos v Border Strikers (Rufaro)
