Bosso in tricky encounter

HIGHLANDERS dribbling master, Rahman Kutsanzira is likely to make a return to first team action tomorrow at Mandava Stadium against FC Platinum after recovering from an injury that had kept him on the sidelines for more than three months.

The slim attacking midfielder last featured for the Bulawayo giants, who are breathing heavily on the neck of defending champions Dynamos on Week Six during his team's 4-0 drubbing of Caps United at Barbourfields Stadium.

In that match, he scored a rare goal seven minutes into the game heading past a hapless Caps United goalie Tafadzwa Dube. Ozias Zibande, Mamelodi Sundowns' Kudakwashe Mahachi and Cleopas Dube who has also left the club were on target against Caps United.

Speaking on the sidelines of Highlanders' slender 1-0 win over Triangle at Hartsfield Grounds on Thursday, Kutsanzira said he is itching to break into the first team following his recovery.

"I have been training hard since recovering and I am hungry to play again. I have recovered after a frustrating injury that saw me put on a plaster but I am okay. My teammates, supporters and the technical staff have all been supportive and now I am ready to contribute towards the success of the club.

"Like I said, I'm fully fit and now it depends on how the coach plans his game, he might have me on or not but I'm ready for action," Kutsanzira said.

With Pasca Manhanga out for two weeks after picking a red card during Highlanders' victory over Triangle, Kutsanzira is in line for a comeback.

However, he has to fight for a place on the wing with Knox Mutizwa, Valentine Ndaba and Welcome Ndiweni while Joel Ngodzo and Mthulisi Maphosa battle it out for a role behind strikers Charles Sibanda and Njabulo Ncube or Kuda Machazane.

Felix Chindungwe and Hillary Madzivanyika seem to be doing well in their twin defensive midfielders' roles.

With goalkeeper Ariel Sibanda guaranteed a starting place, Innocent Mapuranga and Dumisani Ndlovu will be partners at central defence while Webster Chironda who came in as a second half substitute for injured Honest Moyo might be thrown into the fray on the right side of defence with Eric Mudzingwa playing as a left back.

Kaindu and his boys should be wary of their rivals who are under the leadership of championship winning coach with Monomotapa and former national team gaffer Norman Mapeza who took over from Lloyd Mutasa recently.

Tomorrow's encounter is Mapeza's first home league game in charge and the coach is not reading much into the clash with Highlanders saying, "the Highlanders game is just like any other Premiership game. We will see how best to prepare for the encounter."

Kaindu was also modest after beating Triangle United.

"It's just another game but on their day they can do anything," Kaindu said.

The platinum miners' hopes will be pinned on captain Thabani Kamusoko, Aaron Katebe, Allan Gahadzikwa, Obrey Chirwa who scored the solitary goal against Black Rhinos in a midweek fixture, speed merchant Marshal Mudewe, Qadr Amin and Raphael Muduvhiwa.

FC Platinum will be without striker Donald Ngoma and defender James Marufu who are serving one match suspensions after accumulating three yellow cards.

The two FC Platinum players are joined on the sidelines by Triangle's Tawanda Mpungu, Tawanda Nyamandwe of ZPC Kariba, Talent Chawapihwa (Harare City), Lloyd Katongomara (Buffaloes), Gilbert Banda (How Mine), Xolani Ncube (Shabanie Mine) and James Mukombwe (Black Rhinos).

Meanwhile, at Hartsfield Grounds this afternoon Chicken Inn host Shabanie Mine with relegation faced Bantu Rovers travelling to Harare for a date with ZPC Kariba who suffered their first defeat at the hands of Chapungu on Wednesday.

Fixtures
Today: Harare City v How Mine (Rufaro), Chicken Inn v Shabanie Mine (Hartsfield Grounds), ZPC Kariba v Bantu Rovers (Gwanzura)
Tomorrow: Buffaloes v Black Rhinos (Sakubva), Triangle United v Dynamos (Gibbo), Hwange v Chiredzi (Colliery), Caps United v Chapungu (Rufaro), FC Platinum v Highlanders (Mandava)

Suspended players
Tawanda Mpungu (Chiredzi), Tawanda Nyamandwe (ZPC Kariba), Talent Chawapihwa (Harare City), Lloyd Katongomara (Buffaloes), Gilbert Banda (How Mine), Xolani Ncube (Shabanie Mine), James Marufu, Donald Ngoma (FC Platinum), James Mukombwe (Black Rhinos)