Sports / Soccer
Dembare takes on FC Platinum without its top hitman
29 Aug 2012 at 04:32hrs | Views
DEFENDING champions, Dynamos will be without Rodrick Mutuma and Tawanda Muparati, who are both serving their suspensions, when they clash with FC Platinum at Rufaro Stadium this afternoon.
The two players were suspended for Week 16, which is today's match, and should not play unless the Harare giants defy standing rules and regulations while FC Platinum might also find themselves on the wrong side of the law after taking along suspended Zephania Ngodzo for the match.
Ngodzo received a red card on Saturday in the 3-0 loss to Monomotapa at Mandava Stadium but The Money bags are arguing that today's match is a Week 16 rearranged fixture which should not affect Ngodzo's suspension.
"Our rules are very clear on that one, a red card is immediate suspension for the next two games and if they use Ngodzo then they should know that they will be using a suspended player," said board member competitions, Tawengwa Hara.
Upon receiving the notification from the Premier Soccer League that Mutuma and Muparati had been suspended for Week 16, the Dynamos leadership wrote to the league stating that the suspension did not affect their week 15 game and the league agreed that the duo was eligible to play.
The Harare side went on to post a morale-boosting 2-1 win over the platinum miners.
"Just like FC Platinum, if Dynamos field the two players, they will be doing so in full knowledge that the two players are suspended," said Hara.
The match though had been in doubt after Dynamos tried to have it postponed arguing that their coach Callisto Pasuwa will be attending a coaching clinic at Prince Edward High School.
"We wrote to them and told them that we cannot entertain their request for a postponement so the match is definitely on," said Hara yesterday.
Meanwhile, FC Platinum have been a pale shadow of themselves this season and are almost out of the running for the league title while the Harare giants have not lost a match since that shock 1-0 defeat to Harare City nine matches ago.
FC Platinum believe Dynamos are under a lot of pressure as they try to close the gap on leaders, Highlanders, who enjoy a six-point lead.
"Dynamos are under pressure to close the gap between them and Highlanders. We have not beaten them in the past four meetings and they will want to maintain their record," said club spokesperson Phillimon Muvengwa.
"It is going to be one of the most exciting matches to be played at Rufaro Stadium this season. We are well prepared for them and we have already forgotten about the loss to Monomotapa and our main focus is on the match," he said.
FC Platinum will miss the services of injured players Simon Shoko, Rowan Nenzou and Frank Mlambo.
Tafadzwa Dube is also out.
The former Lancashire Steel, Masvingo, Dynamos and Gunners goal minder who had conceded 21 goals did not travel with the team yesterday and Francis Tizayi who enjoys playing against Dynamos will be guarding the posts.
The miners welcome back Thabani Kamusoko who will play the defensive role getting support from captain Daniel Veremu and Norman Togara.
Ali Sadiki, Donald Ngoma, Benjamin Marere and Mitchell Katsvairo are expected to lead the Zvishavane-based side's attack.
FC Platinum need to collect maximum points to keep their hopes alive although they are sitting on 29 points from 18 matches.
"I just want to pick up points at the moment and that is my main focus and I will not talk about the championship," said interim coach Chikuni.
The two players were suspended for Week 16, which is today's match, and should not play unless the Harare giants defy standing rules and regulations while FC Platinum might also find themselves on the wrong side of the law after taking along suspended Zephania Ngodzo for the match.
Ngodzo received a red card on Saturday in the 3-0 loss to Monomotapa at Mandava Stadium but The Money bags are arguing that today's match is a Week 16 rearranged fixture which should not affect Ngodzo's suspension.
"Our rules are very clear on that one, a red card is immediate suspension for the next two games and if they use Ngodzo then they should know that they will be using a suspended player," said board member competitions, Tawengwa Hara.
Upon receiving the notification from the Premier Soccer League that Mutuma and Muparati had been suspended for Week 16, the Dynamos leadership wrote to the league stating that the suspension did not affect their week 15 game and the league agreed that the duo was eligible to play.
The Harare side went on to post a morale-boosting 2-1 win over the platinum miners.
"Just like FC Platinum, if Dynamos field the two players, they will be doing so in full knowledge that the two players are suspended," said Hara.
The match though had been in doubt after Dynamos tried to have it postponed arguing that their coach Callisto Pasuwa will be attending a coaching clinic at Prince Edward High School.
"We wrote to them and told them that we cannot entertain their request for a postponement so the match is definitely on," said Hara yesterday.
Meanwhile, FC Platinum have been a pale shadow of themselves this season and are almost out of the running for the league title while the Harare giants have not lost a match since that shock 1-0 defeat to Harare City nine matches ago.
FC Platinum believe Dynamos are under a lot of pressure as they try to close the gap on leaders, Highlanders, who enjoy a six-point lead.
"Dynamos are under pressure to close the gap between them and Highlanders. We have not beaten them in the past four meetings and they will want to maintain their record," said club spokesperson Phillimon Muvengwa.
"It is going to be one of the most exciting matches to be played at Rufaro Stadium this season. We are well prepared for them and we have already forgotten about the loss to Monomotapa and our main focus is on the match," he said.
FC Platinum will miss the services of injured players Simon Shoko, Rowan Nenzou and Frank Mlambo.
Tafadzwa Dube is also out.
The former Lancashire Steel, Masvingo, Dynamos and Gunners goal minder who had conceded 21 goals did not travel with the team yesterday and Francis Tizayi who enjoys playing against Dynamos will be guarding the posts.
The miners welcome back Thabani Kamusoko who will play the defensive role getting support from captain Daniel Veremu and Norman Togara.
Ali Sadiki, Donald Ngoma, Benjamin Marere and Mitchell Katsvairo are expected to lead the Zvishavane-based side's attack.
FC Platinum need to collect maximum points to keep their hopes alive although they are sitting on 29 points from 18 matches.
"I just want to pick up points at the moment and that is my main focus and I will not talk about the championship," said interim coach Chikuni.
Source - TH
