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Fungai Muderere
AFTER the country’s flagship team, the Warriors failed to secure a friendly match in this ongoing Fifa international break, Castle Lager Premier Soccer League action will continue with the now interesting marathon entering round 27.
It’s a period that has seen a number of movers and shakers to signal the start of the real bruising battle for the league title and the fight to avoid the dreaded chop.
Free falling Highlanders will be without their Portuguese head coach Baltemar Brito and his assistant Antonio Torres when they face struggling army side Cranborne Bullets at Barbourfields Stadium on Sunday.
Brito and Torres were scheduled to leave Bulawayo for Harare on Thursday to join the Warriors training camp.
“The preparations for this game have gone so well. But as we know that we are travelling for the national team today (Thursday), coach Madinda (Ndlovu) and coach Joel (Luphahla) will take control of the team on the big day. We have been working together knowing that we will be leaving for the national team,” said Brito.
Ndlovu, who is fondly known as Khathazile to hordes of Bosso followers and Luphahla have not been sitting on the Bosso dugout previously following match proceedings from the terraces where they would be taking notes.
With the team seemingly taking a nose dive and losing control on the destiny of the coveted title, the ever impatient Bosso faithfuls have slowly started questioning Brito’s tactical abilities.
After going for a 19-game unbeaten run, the Bosso side has over the weeks been reduced to a pale shadow of itself. Only last weekend, the Bulawayo giants went down 3-0 to new boys Simba Bhora which was their biggest defeat of the season so far.
Log leaders Ngezi Platinum Stars will on Saturday be involved in a tricky tie against Chicken Inn at Mhondoro’s Baobab Stadium.
Four-time league champions FC Platinum will have an away date with Luke Masomere’s ZPC Kariba while Bulawayo Chiefs entertain Simba Bhora at Luveve Stadium.
Black Rhinos and Greenfuel will square it off at Gweru’s Bata Stadium while Herentals and Yadah Stars fight it out at National Sports Stadium
In other matches scheduled for Sunday, Triangle United will play host to Hwange at Gibbo Stadium. CAPS United will play against Sheasham at National Sports Stadium.
Meanwhile, the FC Platinum duo of Walter Musona and Brian have been excused from the Warriors squad that is holding a training camp in the capital.
The pair pulled out together with pint-sized Supersport striker Terrence Dzukamanja and Dynamos inform goalminder Prince Tafiremutsa.
The Zimbabwe Football Association (Zifa) announced on Thursday that the four players have been replaced by Sylvester Munhari of Cranborne Bullets and Delic Murimba of Ngezi Platinum.
The camp is being used by the Brito-led national team coaches to assess the players ahead of the 2026 World Cup Qualifiers that are set to begin next month.
Siphakeme .Mnindwa
