City brace for Caps backlash
. . . As Chicken Inn, Tsholotsho clash in derby
BULAWAYO City stand-in coach Try Ncube will be eager to get his first three points in charge of the side when they meet title-chasing Caps United this afternoon at Barbourfields Stadium in a Castle Lager Premier Soccer League tie.
Ncube, who came in for Philani Ncube, who was suspended on match fixing allegations, has posted draws in his first two games against Hwange and Dynamos but he feels his side has to bag three points today if they are to escape the dreaded chop at the end of the season.
He said while they respect Caps, which has shown great intent on winning the league; they would be gunning for three points and nothing else.
Ncube said preparations for the game have gone on well despite the fact that they were missing several players through injury and suspension among them Mkhokheli Dube, Sipho Ndlovu and Emmanuel Mandiranga.
“Caps are a good side as shown by the fact they are on position two on the log but we are ready for them. We have been psyching up the boys and they know the job at hand is to get maximum points and nothing else. We are aware that we have to start raking in the points if we are not going to find ourselves at the risk of being relegated. Our aim is to be in the Premiership next year and that means avoiding the relegation zone,” said Ncube.
City will be boosted by the return of influential captain, Xolisani “Scara” Moyo who missed the Dynamos tie due to suspension after accumulating three yellow cards.
Ncube was confident replacements for the injured players that also include Peace Tshuma will be able to come in and also seek to impress. He hinted midfielders Trevor Ndlovu and Mkhululi Moyo could be handed starting places in the tie.
Caps come into the match on the back of a boycott threat by players over late payment of salaries and allowances.
It took the intervention of the major shareholder, Farai Jere for the team to travel to Hwange last week as players threatened to revolt but calm returned this week giving Lloyd Chitembwe room to plot City’s downfall without disturbances.
The Green Machine will, however, be hamstrung by the absence of their top marksman, Dominic Chungwa who is serving a suspension after accumulating three yellow cards.
The striker has been banging in the crucial goals for Makepekepe propelling them to second spot but the duty will fall on Simba Nhivi and Leonard Tsipa to convert the chances they create and hopefully close in on log leaders FC Platinum, who are playing Triangle at Gibbo today.
Meanwhile, across town Chicken Inn take on Tsholotsho at Luveve Stadium today in a match Tsholotsho coach, Lizwe Svesve has marked a must win.
Svesve said this was the time to start winning games if they are to entertain any hope of surviving relegation but added they were not under any pressure going into today’s game.
“The final third of the league is the time when teams facing relegation start clawing back to survive while those aiming for the title rake in the points and cement their position and for us we are certainly not in a good position. Every point counts and we have no intention of losing tomorrow,” said Svesve, adding they will have to focus on converting their chances as it was their failure to score that has haunted them the most.
Despite playing well, Iziqholo zeZhwane have found goals elusive and lapses of concentration seem to be the “order of the day’’ as their last three losses have come from 1-0 margins in games they came up with chances but were unable to convert those into goals.
“We just have to score because that is where our weakness is. We have been playing well but scoring has been our Achilles heel but we have been dealing with that in training and we will be able to see a change of fortunes tomorrow,” he said.
Champions, Chicken Inn would also be hard pressed for a win following an indifferent performance this season which will be inadequate for them to defend the title.
Fixtures Today: Chicken Inn v Tsholotsho (Luveve), Bulawayo City v Caps United (Barbourfields), Dynamos v Harare City (Rufaro), Border Strikers v Ngezi Platinum Stars (Dulivhadzimu), Triangle United v FC Platinum (Gibbo)