Sports / Local
Ariel set for a comeback to the Bosso starting line up
17 Apr 2013 at 05:10hrs | Views
REIGNING Castle Lager Goalkeeper of the Year Ariel Sibanda could make a return to the starting line-up when Highlanders meet their rivals Dynamos in the Independence Cup final set for the National Sports Stadium tomorrow.
The other final will pit NetOne Charity Shield holders Chicken Inn and losing Mbada Diamonds Cup finalists Monomotapa at White City Stadium.
Due to budgetary constraints, organisers chose to do away with the semi-finals but instead there will be two finals with winners of the two matches set to get $15 000 and a trophy while losers will receive $10 000.
The four finalists will meet again three days later in crucial league encounters like the rest of the league teams.
All four had bad weekend matches on Week Four of the Premiership. Monomotapa, Chicken Inn and Highlanders all lost their matches while Dynamos drew theirs but remain winless in four games.
With Highlanders coach Kelvin Kaindu indicating that he might give rookies and fringe players an opportunity to have a go, relegated Sibanda will most certainly play his first competitive match since his nightmarish show when he let in four goals in the Bob 88 Super Cup second leg final against Dynamos.
He was taken out in that game and ever since then, Munyaradzi Diya has guarded the goal area brilliantly, letting in two goals so far, one against Triangle and last Saturday's 1-0 loss to Motor Action.
"We may give other players who have not been playing a chance to play especially since we are meeting the same team a few days later," said Kaindu.
He refused to say who would be in goal but all appeared to point to the return of Sibanda, popularly known as "Mangoye" due to his acrobatic antics.
Rookies like dribbling wizard Chidzani Malaba, Lucky Sibanda, Bobby Nkomo, Ryan Howes might all be given starting line-up jerseys with the likes of Hillary Madzivanyika and Lawson Nkomo. Also set to make a start after a long lay-off due to injury is forward Beavan Chikaka while Cleopas Dube, who is reportedly having disciplinary problems, might again be left out.
Kaindu is on record as saying that he picks his squad on merit. Last year Dube was dropped despite scoring his debut goal after he skipped training.
Bosso who beat Dynamos in the 2011 Independence Cup final, are looking for a morale boosting win.
"The team is coming from a loss and we need a morale boosting win early," said Kaindu, whose team leaves for the capital this morning and will only return after the Battle of the Titans on Sunday.
Mandla Mpofu, the Chicken Inn gaffer, said he will field a strong squad for the final as he had 30 registered good players.
He welcomes back skipper Felix Chindungwe and Thabani Goredema who have been out injured.
"We are fielding our strongest side," said Mpofu.
The other final will pit NetOne Charity Shield holders Chicken Inn and losing Mbada Diamonds Cup finalists Monomotapa at White City Stadium.
Due to budgetary constraints, organisers chose to do away with the semi-finals but instead there will be two finals with winners of the two matches set to get $15 000 and a trophy while losers will receive $10 000.
The four finalists will meet again three days later in crucial league encounters like the rest of the league teams.
All four had bad weekend matches on Week Four of the Premiership. Monomotapa, Chicken Inn and Highlanders all lost their matches while Dynamos drew theirs but remain winless in four games.
With Highlanders coach Kelvin Kaindu indicating that he might give rookies and fringe players an opportunity to have a go, relegated Sibanda will most certainly play his first competitive match since his nightmarish show when he let in four goals in the Bob 88 Super Cup second leg final against Dynamos.
He was taken out in that game and ever since then, Munyaradzi Diya has guarded the goal area brilliantly, letting in two goals so far, one against Triangle and last Saturday's 1-0 loss to Motor Action.
"We may give other players who have not been playing a chance to play especially since we are meeting the same team a few days later," said Kaindu.
He refused to say who would be in goal but all appeared to point to the return of Sibanda, popularly known as "Mangoye" due to his acrobatic antics.
Rookies like dribbling wizard Chidzani Malaba, Lucky Sibanda, Bobby Nkomo, Ryan Howes might all be given starting line-up jerseys with the likes of Hillary Madzivanyika and Lawson Nkomo. Also set to make a start after a long lay-off due to injury is forward Beavan Chikaka while Cleopas Dube, who is reportedly having disciplinary problems, might again be left out.
Kaindu is on record as saying that he picks his squad on merit. Last year Dube was dropped despite scoring his debut goal after he skipped training.
Bosso who beat Dynamos in the 2011 Independence Cup final, are looking for a morale boosting win.
"The team is coming from a loss and we need a morale boosting win early," said Kaindu, whose team leaves for the capital this morning and will only return after the Battle of the Titans on Sunday.
Mandla Mpofu, the Chicken Inn gaffer, said he will field a strong squad for the final as he had 30 registered good players.
He welcomes back skipper Felix Chindungwe and Thabani Goredema who have been out injured.
"We are fielding our strongest side," said Mpofu.
Source - TC
