Motor Action received a fitness boost ahead of this afternoon’s Independence Trophy football final clash against FC Platinum set for the National Sports Stadium when Godfrey Moyo resumed full training after more than a month on the sidelines.
Winners take home $12 000 and runners up will get $8 000.
The Warriors fringe defender had been out since suffering a knee injury in a tour of duty with the Warriors in Burundi early March.
However, Mighty Bulls team manager Johnson Mhungu yesterday said the big centre-back, together with fellow defender Reuben Machaya, had fully recovered, and the pair was up for selection today against Platinum.
Machaya picked the injury during his team’s Confederations Cup clash against Black Leopards in South Africa in mid-February.
“They have fully recovered and have been training with the rest of the team. They are ready to play, but that will depend on the coaches on whether to select them today,” said Mhungu.
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The availability of the two defenders will no doubt give coach Joey Antipas some options at the back.
Antipas has in the past weeks been juggling between Morris Kadzola and Dominic Mukandi, and at times Charles Mutero on that defensive position. Assistant coach Prince Matore yesterday said his team was ready for battle.
“It always feels good to win a trophy and we will do our best to beat FC Platinum. They are a good side, but we will have to win the match. A win will not just add to the number of trophies that we already have, but it also gives the players confidence going into the coming league matches,” said Matore.
While the Mighty Bulls have been boosted by the return of their reliable centre-backs, FC Platinum, who will be looking to collect their second silverware of the season, have striker Donald Ngoma still on the sidelines.
Fellow teammate left-back Qadr Amini had not been certified fit for the match by late afternoon yesterday.
However, FC Platinum secretary Phil Muvengwa said they were not worried by the injuries.
“We are not worried much about the injuries because we registered 25 players who we believe are equally good,” he said.
There have been growing calls from a section of the team’s supporters to field a weakened side in view of the impending Zvishavane derby against Shabanie Mine this weekend, but Muvengwa said today’s match was equally important.
“We play every game to win. We want the Independence Trophy to be our second cup this season and we are very confident we will win it. We respect Motor Action a lot because they are a good side with a lot of experience in cup finals, but we are ready for the match,” added Muvengwa.
FC Platinum have already in their cabinet trophy, the Bob 88 Super Cup which they won last month after beating Hwange in the final.
Platinum have not won against the Mighty Bulls in their last two meetings after the Harare side picked up a point at Mandava in a 0-0 draw last season before winning 2-1 in Harare in the reverse fixture.
Meanwhile, Hwange engage Dynamos in the third and fourth-place playoff at White City Stadium in Bulawayo this afternoon.
The two teams have promised to field their strongest possible squads for the match.