Highlanders FC to parade new signings

HIGHLANDERS FC will tomorrow parade their prodigal sons Obidiah Tarumbwa and Teenage Hadebe when they take on Zifa Southern Region Division One side Bulawayo City at Barbourfields Stadium. Tarumbwa and Hadebe returned to Bosso on Thursday from Bantu Rovers alongside Nqobizitha Masuku.

Tarumbwa, 29, returns to the club that shaped his career after seven years of stints in Belgium, Kenya and South Africa. He was at Bantu Rovers last season while Hadebe, 19, left the club to join Tshintsha Guluva in 2012.

The three - Tarumbwa, Masuku and Hadebe are Highlanders' last pre-season signings which has led to former Bosso skipper Innocent Mapuranga, Simba Sithole, Valentine Ndaba and Lindelani Ncube being sent out on loan spells.

"I don't know who is going to play on Sunday but it's imperative to field the latest acquisitions so that the Highlanders supporters welcome them. They've seen the other guys play in the friendly games that we've had with Chapungu and FC Platinum so we hope people will come in their numbers to watch their team and see how it has shaped," said Ndumiso Gumede, the Highlanders chief executive officer.

Focus will be on Tarumbwa who will be expected to use his experience in leading Highlanders' attack.

In the last three seasons, Highlanders' lack of potency upfront has been one of the reasons for their failure to win the league title and it remains to be seen whether Tarumbwa is the right tonic that they need.

Tarumbwa, who comes in as a direct replacement for last season's joint top goalscorer Charles Sibanda will compete for a starting place with speed merchant Gabriel Nyoni, Ozias Zibande and new signing Thomas Chideu.

Hadebe, an imposing central defender who is also capable of playing as a left back has to shrug off competition from Douglas Sibanda who he partnered at central defence when the national Under-23s lost 2-1 away to Morocco last year, Erick Mudzingwa and Felix Chindungwe for a starting place.

Fierce competition awaits Masuku as Highlanders have a big pool of midfielders all working hard to be in coach Bongani Mafu's first eleven. Masuku's midfield competitors are Tendai Ngulube, King Nadolo, Welcome Ndiweni, Mthulisi Maphosa, Simon Munawa and Edmore Muzanenhamo.

Mafu admits that he has a healthy headache to select his starting team against Bulawayo City who he believes will give him a good run as he works towards polishing his team's combinations.

No doubt, ambitious Bulawayo City who beat Premiership debutantes Tsholotsho FC 1-0 on Thursday will not be pushovers.

Coached by the 2009 Coach of the Year Philani "Beefy" Ncube, Bulawayo City recruited a number of experienced players who include Innocent "Joker" Kutsanzira, Gracious Muleya, goalkeeper Winstone Chiwetu, Makhosi Ncube, Brighton "Zandla" Dube, speed merchants Mkhululi Moyo formerly with Bantu Rovers and Qinani "Chroma" Sibanda who are expected to steer the council owned ship into the Premiership.

Before playing Bosso tomorrow, Bulawayo City take on Hwange at Luveve Stadium this afternoon.

Meanwhile, Luke Masomere's Premiership pre-season favourites How Mine travel to the capital for a game against another side tipped to put up a strong title challenge, Harare City.

How Mine made lots of noise during the off-season getting on board a number of experienced players like strikers Limited Chikafa and last season's joint league top goal scorer Charles Sibanda, 2013 Soccer Star of the Year Tawanda Muparati, goalkeeper Munyaradzi Diya, Tawanda Khumbuyani, ex-Dynamos defensive midfielder Devon Chafa and Benjamin Marere.

The gold miners also retained midfield workhorse Menard Mupera, joint 2014 golden boot award winner Kudakwashe Musharu, Gilbert Banda, Wonder Sithole, Timothy January, Thembani Masuku, Young Warriors goalkeeper Donovan Bernard, Fungai Chirinda and Louis Matawu who are recovering from injuries and Nonjabulo Notice Dube.