HIGHLANDERS have been hit by injuries ahead of the crunch Chibuku Super Cup quarter-final clash against Caps United at Barbourfields Stadium on Sunday.
The Bulawayo giants already had striker Stanley Ngala on the sidelines. Veteran goalkeeper Ariel Sibanda suffered an injury last Sunday in the 1-0 defeat to Hwange at the Colliery and is doubtful for the cup tie against the Green Machine.
Striker Calvin Chigonero and left-back Archford Faira were injured yesterday at training and assistant coach Madinda Ndlovu said the duo was being monitored by the medical team.
“As you are aware we have been going through a bad spell. We are trying all means, to train harder to turn the tables but we have a very big challenge of injuries. Today (yesterday) at training, although we don’t know the magnitude of the injuries, we have two players that got injured in Panda (Calvin Chigonero) and (Archford) Faira. We will hear from the doctors on the extent of their injuries. That is what we have and we are trying to work according to the coach’s (Baltemar Brito) programme,” Ndlovu said.
Brito is in Botswana where he is taking charge of the Warriors who take on the Zebras tomorrow as part of Independence celebrations.
Highlanders have reserve goalkeepers Raphael Pitisi and Reward Muza, who were part of the squad that travelled to Hwange and sat on the bench.
Ndlovu said they respected Makepe-kepeke but would not hand them the game on a silver platter.
“We have a lot of respect for Caps United, make no mistake about that, but we are not going to let them just go over our heads. We are going to give them a very big fight,” he said.
- Chicken Inn knockout Harare City
- FC Platinum 8 points clear as Chicken Inn falters again
- Panashe Mutasa comes of age at Tenax FC
- Dynamos back to winning ways
Keep Reading
During the course of the season, Highlanders left wingback Godfrey Makaruse suffered a career-threatening injury and recently it was midfielder Darlington Mukuli. The two have been ruled out for the rest of the season.
The Bulawayo giants laboured to a penalty shootout win over holders Bulawayo Chiefs after a 2-2 score-line in regulation time last month at BF.
Bosso won the Chibuku Super Cup in 2019 beating Ngezi Platinum Stars 1-0 in the final through a Prince Dube goal at BF.
Meanwhile, another quarter-final clash in Bulawayo pits Chicken Inn and Black Rhinos at Luveve Stadium tomorrow.
The soldiers were responsible for Chicken Inn’s exit in the same tournament in the same stage last year.
