Depleted Bosso face ZPC Kariba test

Bulawayo giants Highlanders are set to troop into Nyamhunga Stadium to face ZPC Kariba on Saturday without seven regular players due to suspension, injury and work-related commitments.

Bosso are yet to win in the second half of the 2016 Castle Lager Premiership season having registered three losses and a draw. They will leave for Kariba without Benson Phiri, Nhlanhla Ndlovu and Ralph Matema, who are all injured, while the duo of Honest Moyo and Simon Munawa are suspended. Kasimero Chimbadzwa is in Harare for the ZRP Commissioner General's Gala representing Bulawayo.

Prince Dube, out for the past two games, has a 50/50 chance of making the trip as, according to worried coach Erol Akbay, he has just started light training.

Moyo and Munawa are among the seven players suspended for this weekend's matches after accumulating three yellow cards each. Munawa and Moyo picked up their third yellow cards against Chicken Inn.

"Please note that the player(s) listed hereunder have each accumulated three yellow cards and will be suspended for one match respectively. The said players shall not participate in their club's Matchday 20 of the Castle Lager Premier Soccer League matches scheduled for the 20th to 21st August 2016," reads a PSL statement.

Other suspended players are Ephraim Mwinga (Border Strikers), Dominic Chungwa (Caps United), Emmanuel Mandiranga (Bulawayo City), Sipho Ndlovu (Bulawayo City) and Marlvin Gaki (Triangle United).

Bosso's difficult position comes at a time when they are facing a team they are yet to beat on the road. In fact, Highlanders have only beaten the electricity men once, a scrambled 1-0 win at Barbourfields Stadium in the reverse fixture. As such they would have wanted to go to Nyamhunga with a full strength and confidence boosting squad.

Speed merchant Gabriel Nyoni might have to carry all Bosso's striking obligations if Dube fails to recover, as taking him when he is half fit might be cruel to his career.

Untried youngsters Thembalethu Mthunzi and McCarthy Dube might be the other options for Akbay, who must also summon all his tactical prowess to outwit another old fox in the game Sunday Chidzambwa, the ZPC Kariba gaffer.

Bulawayo City and Caps United, who clash at Barbourfields Stadium on Sunday, will be missing two players and a player respectively.

Bulawayo football fans will be spoilt for choice on Saturday as Chicken Inn play host to Tsholotsho at White City Stadium, while team of the moment How Mine welcome Chapungu at Luveve Stadium.

Fixtures:

Saturday: Chicken Inn v Tsholotsho (White City), ZPC Kariba v Highlanders (Nyamhunga), How Mine v Chapungu (Luveve)

Sunday: Dynamos v Harare City (Rufaro), Bulawayo City v Caps United (Barbourfields), Border Strikers v Ngezi Platinum Stars (Dulivhadzimo), Triangle United v FC Platinum (Gibbo), Mutare City Rovers v Hwange (Sakubva)