HIGHLANDERS travel to Harare to face Scottland in Castle Lager Premier Soccer League match at Rufaro Stadium on Sunday without key players Mason Mushore and Arthur Ndlovu, who are out due to suspension.Czech Republic-bound Mushore has been a key member of the Bulawayo giants in midfield, earning him a call-up to the Warriors for two friendly matches against Burkina Faso and Niger in Morocco last month.Ndlovu has also been a regular, partnering skipper Andrew Mbeba as central defenders.Caretaker coach Try Ncube says he has able replacements to stand in for the suspended duo.“They (Mushore and Ndlovu) are two good players that have been playing well or played well so far this season, but we have able replacements to cover for them. They will stand in for them,” Ncube said.The gaffer, who last weekend got off to his first victory in charge of the Bulawayo giants, beating Green Fuel at BF, a draw to lowly Kwekwe United in Gweru and a home defeat to MWOS, said so far so good and Highlanders is ready for the flamboyant Scott Sakupwanya-owned star-studded side.“The preparations are going on well and the boys are raring to go. Everyone is training, perfecting well and having full sessions,” Ncube said.“Players that had knocks last week are returning to match fitness. They are training. Playing Scottland will be difficult just like playing any other match, but it’s game that can motivate players. “Scottland have got big name players, but we also have young players who know what is at stake and are eager to make their names.”Mafious Chihweta, the scorer against Manica Diamonds on June 18, Bosso’s last goal before he returned from injury to score against Green Fuel on Sunday, is ready for selection and so are Archford Faira, Tendai Muvuti and Malvern Hativagoni, who were also nursing injuries.Ncube says there are positives coming out of his team’s performance, a good sign of things ahead.“We have played fairly well in the last three matches. We cannot say we have been exceptional because we did not pick the points that we wanted to pick as Highlanders,” he said.“There are more positives than negatives because we are creating chances and the players are trying hard to get us the results that we want.”The Bulawayo giants take on Scottland, who edged Ngezi Platinum Stars 2-1 at Baobab last Saturday after a dry spell, courtesy of a Mthokozisi Msebe brace and will be eager to pick up from where they left.Mabvirabvira, coached by Tonderai Ndiraya, are in the race for the championship with 31 points from 19 games, nine behind leaders Simba Bhora and MWOS, who are tied on 40 points.They have an abandoned match against Chicken Inn, in which they are likely to be awarded three points on a 3-0 scoreline as the GameCocks walked off the pitch at Rufaro after Scottland were awarded a penalty in the dying minutes of the game.
