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Sikhumbuzo Moyo Senior Sports Reporter
HIGHLANDERS shot-stopper Ariel Sibanda is set to reclaim his starting place when the Bulawayo giants take on bogey but troubled side Chapungu United in a Castle Lager Premiership encounter set for Barbourfields tomorrow.

The former Plumtree High pupil, who has been slowly on his way to his old self that saw him being called to the national team in 2012, sat it out in the drab 1-1 derby draw against Bulawayo City at the same venue last Sunday after the technical bench preferred veteran Njabulo Nyoni.

“There was nothing wrong with Ariel, you see we train next to Bulawayo City and I could see that the whole week, they were perfecting in areas where they thought Ariel wasn’t that good. They spent the week training on Ariel’s weaknesses. We pretended we weren’t aware of that and never showed any signs that Njabulo will be our starting goalie,” said Highlanders coach Erol Akbay during a pres conference on Thursday, an indication that he was likely to revert to Sibanda, especially after goalkeepers’ coach Cosmos Zulu told the same Press conference earlier that he actually had recommended Sibanda.

“I don’t choose the final team, Erol does. I only recommend and on that day I recommended Ariel but the coach thought otherwise, I had no qualms with it, he’s the boss you know,” said Zulu.

Sibanda has been in terrific form this season, especially on one-on-one situations but has been found wanting on free kicks.

Bosso will be hoping to pick themselves up and win over a tricky Chapungu who embarrassed them at Barbourfields last season with a 1-0 win, their maiden 2015 season victory which came after five games.

“We know Chapungu are a very physical side, very military. We need to come up with a strategy for that in order to collect maximum points, which we must do by the way,” said Akbay.

Veteran Ralph Matema will again be on the sidelines as his injury continues to take long to heal.

Knox Mutizwa, taken out limping last Sunday, is fit for tomorrow’s match, according to Akbay. The player himself had told Chronicle Sport on Wednesday that even though he was still in pain, he wanted to be part of the team on Sunday.

“Knox will play but we still have to assess Bruce Kangwa. We’ve to hear what our medical team says about him,” said Akbay.

Kangwa was also a victim of a crude tackle during the derby.

Highlanders lie fourth on the table with seven points, five points behind early leaders FC Platinum while Chapungu are 11th having won and drawn a single match, losing two.

Bosso, in an effort to match the physical nature of Chapungu players, might throw in Erick Mudzingwa and Douglas Sibanda in the middle of the park and push Simon Munawa to play just behind the strikers.

League action for Bulawayo fans begins this afternoon with matches at Luveve and White City stadiums. It’s derby time once more when Chicken Inn come face-to-face with Bulawayo City at Luveve. Bulawayo City remain one of the only two sides yet to win in the league, the other being Border Strikers.

At White City, Tsholotsho FC welcome debutants Ngezi Platinum hoping to collect maximum points and keep their top eight finish dream alive. They are two points off the mark so far.

A bullish City captain Xolisani Moyo said there is no way they can lose to Chicken Inn this afternoon.

“It’s only a matter of time before we get the victory which has been eluding us. We’ve been working hard to make sure that we find that one win which I believe is coming soon. What I know is that there’s no way we can lose to Chicken Inn and we’re ready for maximum points,” said Moyo, a former Chicken Inn player.

Veteran striker Mkhokheli Dube and another forward Thomas Chimenya are also former Chicken Inn players who are expected to play a key role in inspiring City to victory.

City are also coached by an ex-Chicken Inn gaffer Philani Ncube who declared his charges ready for the defending champions.

The battle is likely to be won and lost in the midfield where City are likely to retain the midfield quartet of Moyo, Innocent Kutsanzira, Eddie Nkulungo and Manuel Mandiranga.

Chicken Inn’s midfield will be centred on skipper Danny Phiri, Tafadzwa Kutinyu, Clemence Matawu and Edmore Chirambadare.