Central defence duo out of crucial tie…Tsholotsho in catch 22 Tussle for the ball, Chicken Inn’s George Majika and Tsholotsho’s William Stima push as they chase for the ball at Luveve Stadium yesterday

Ricky Zililo Senior Sports Reporter—
TSHOLOTSHO FC are in a fix going into their must-win Castle Lager Premier Soccer League match against Harare City on Saturday following the suspensions of central defence duo of skipper William Stima and Thandolwenkosi Ncube. The two are part of the six players who will miss the last match of the 2015 season.

The other players that have been suspended after accumulating three yellow cards are Hwange goalkeeper Takabva Mawaya, Harare City’s Tafadzwa Chimwemwe and FC Platinum’s midfielders Tatenda Dzumbunu and Winston Mhango.

FC Platinum, Hwange and Harare City won’t miss their players much because they have nothing to play for unlike Tsholotsho who are fighting for their survival.

Only a victory against Harare City will save Tsholotsho against sinking into the unfashionable Division One Soccer League. Tsholotsho are a place above the drop zone on position 12 with 30 points. Buffaloes occupy the last drop zone slot, position 13 with 29 points and will be at home to former champions Dynamos.

A draw will not be good for Tsholotsho in the event that Buffaloes spring a shocker and hand Dynamos a defeat.

Without inspirational Stima who has been Tsholotsho’s heartbeat, leading from the back, the Zhwane Boys could be vulnerable. The Stima-Ncube partnership will be greatly missed. However, coach Lizwe Sweswe said he has equally good central defenders who are capable of providing cover for goalkeeper Nickel Marichi.

Sweswe is confident that Tsholotsho will survive the chop.

“Our survival is in our hands. Unlike Buffaloes, who are relying on Harare City to do the job for them, we have our fate in our hands and what is required of us is to win this last game. Many people never thought that by this stage we will be in with a chance of surviving but here we are, proving everyone wrong that we are Premiership material.

“Obviously Stima and Thando (Ncube) have been vital cogs during our campaign but we’ve got equally good players who can fill that gap. I know that the players who will come in are going to do a good job shutting out our opponents,” Sweswe said.

Without injured veteran Danisa Phiri who is in a plaster, Tsholotsho are likely to play Donald Dzvinyai and Calvin Moyo at central defence. Dzvinyai and Moyo have probably been waiting for an opportunity like this to prove their worth.

Saturday’s game is likely to bring the best out of the Zhwane Boys and they will want to complete a double over Harare City, a side that they beat 1-0 in the reverse fixture played on the opening day of the 2015 season.

Simbarashe Gorogodyo scored that solitary goal which was the season’s first. Gorogodyo, veteran Joel Luphahla and Lynnoth Chikuhwa will lead Tsholotsho’s search for goals against Harare City. But Tsholotsho should brace for a tough game as Harare City will be eying revenge and with a chance to be in the top eight, the Sunshine City Boys might prove difficult to beat.

Fixtures
Saturday: Chapungu v How Mine (Ascot), Tsholotsho FC v Harare City (White City), Caps United v Whawha (National Sports Stadium), Flame Lily v Chicken Inn (Lafarge), Dongo Sawmill v FC Platinum (Vengere), Buffaloes v Dynamos (Sakubva), Hwange v Triangle United (Colliery), Highlanders v ZPC Kariba (Barbourfields)

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