H’LANDERS SETBACK: Injuries leave club with one striker Obadiah Tarumbwa
OBADIAH TARUMBWA CURVES

Obadiah Tarumbwa

Ricky Zililo Senior Sports Reporter
THE struggling Bulawayo soccer giants Highlanders FC have suffered another setback following the injury of Obidiah Tarumbwa thereby leaving Bosso with just one striker, Gabriel Nyoni. Tarumbwa who joins the Bosso casualty list, has been ruled out for six weeks.

Highlanders has been misfiring with a full complement of strikers and the situation is bound to be worse with just Nyoni left.

The injury of Tarumbwa and his striking partner Thomas Chidewu, will definitely be a headache for coach Bongani Mafu who is hard-pressed for a positive result.

The injured duo join fellow strikers Simba Sithole and Ozias Zibande.

Bosso have a hectic Easter weekend, playing host to Hwange on Friday before travelling to Rusape for a date with Buffaloes at Vengere Stadium on Sunday.

Mafu will have sleepless nights trying to come up with a winning team for the two matches.

During their 1-0 win against Tsholotsho FC where they got their goal from central defender Teenage Hadebe, Highlanders had to pull out Tarumbwa in the 40th minute as the striker struggled with a knee      injury.

Chidewu injured his heel and could be seen limping towards the end of the game against Tsholotsho.

“We really have a ‘strikers drought’ in the team because all our top men are injured. As it is we’re trying to work on Chidewu hoping he might hold on for a while but if he doesn’t get well we’ll have to play Gabriel as our top man,” Mafu said.

He said the other alternative was probably to play midfielder Welcome Ndiweni on the right to replace Nyoni.

The Bosso coach had been hoping to take the game to their opponents by using two strikers but now he has to re-strategise.

Mafu also hinted that he might be forced to rush Sithole back into action. The former Ajax Cape Town striker started light training last week and began working with the ball yesterday.

Zibande, according to Mafu, is  expected back in action in a week.

Besides the strikers, the Highlanders gaffer is sweating over the recovery of his attacking trio of Rahman Kutsanzira, King Nadolo and Knox Mutizwa.

Hadebe had to be substituted after scoring a ‘wonder fluke goal’ after hurting his knee when he went for a challenge.

At least Bosso have enough central defensive cover in Erick Mudzingwa and Douglas Sibanda who can partner skipper Felix Chindungwe.

Highlanders should pray that none of their players picks an injury on Friday as that will be a disaster ahead of their Buffaloes trip.

There is no time to recover as they will be on the road on Saturday morning for Sunday’s clash with the army side.

Hwange are a wounded animal after surrendering a 3-1 lead against ZPC Kariba to finish 3-3 and the Bulawayo giants should therefore expect a tough game. The coal miners are desperately hunting for their first full set of points.

Week Three

Tomorrow: How Mine v Caps United (Luveve, SuperSport)

Friday: Whawha v Harare City (Ascot), Chicken Inn v Tsholotsho FC (Luveve), ZPC Kariba v Buffaloes (Gwanzura), Highlanders v Hwange (Barbourfields, SuperSport), Dynamos v Dongo Sawmills (National Sports Stadium), Triangle United v Chapungu (Gibbo)

Week Four

Sunday: Harare City v FC Platinum (Rufaro, Postponed), Flame Lily v How Mine (    Gwanzura, SuperSport), Buffaloes v Highlanders (Vengere)

Monday: Dongo Sawmills v Triangle United (Vengere), Chicken Inn v Whawha (Luveve), Caps United v Dynamos (National Sports Stadium, SuperSport), Tsholotsho FC v Hwange (White City), Chapungu v ZPC Kariba (Ascot)

Wednesday, April 8: FC Platinum v Flame Lily (Mandava)

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