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Ricky Zililo Senior Sports Reporter
HWANGE are ready for defending champions Dynamos who they meet in a league match at the Colliery Stadium on Sunday.

The coalminers’ coach Nation Dube, who is with the national team that plays Comoros tomorrow, is confident his charges will emerge victorious against the defending champions.

Dube said he would be available for the crunch tie as the Warriors are expected back home soon after the match tomorrow night.

“I won’t miss the game. From my understanding, we are returning soon after the match, meaning that we will be back home by Saturday midnight, and I will travel to Hwange,” Dube said.

Hwange have always been DeMbare’s bogey team, especially at the Colliery, with the Harare giants’ last victory being in 2012.

Chipangano are sitting precariously on 12th position on the log with 14 points from 14 outings.

It is their shaky position on the league table that will play a big role in motivating the coalminers to win against the champions.

Hwange go into the game smarting from a 1-2 away defeat to How Mine, while their opponents are basking from their controversial, but welcome 3-2 win against perennial rivals Highlanders.

Dube warned the champions.

“They are the champions and we are not in a good position, which means that this game will be tightly contested. We have to start collecting points especially at home, starting with the Dynamos game so that we move away from the drop zone,” said Dube.

Hwange will be without speedy forward Evans Rusike, who is undergoing trials in South Africa, as well as injured Young Warriors striker Pritchard Mphelele.

On a positive side, Isaac Masame and Aleck Marime, who have been absent without leave, are said to have trained with the rest of the team on Wednesday.

“It’s good that Marime and Masame are back in training. However, they are not guaranteed starting places and have to earn them. My assistants are looking at them and have been giving me feedback,” Dube said.

Former Hwange and Highlanders goalkeeper Chenjerai Dube has been taking Chipangano players through their paces in the absence of the head coach.

Some of the players that the coalminers will bank on are goalkeeper Takabva Mawaya, veterans Gilbert Zulu, Gerald Ndlovu and Andrew Chuma. They also have enterprising left back Munyaradzi Mungadze, Innocent Mucheneka and former Soccer Star of the Year finalist Nkosana Siwela to bank on.

Dynamos are likely to be without star midfielder Ronald “Rooney” Chitiyo, who is reported to be in South Africa for trials.

Chitiyo has been Dynamos’ driving force, crafting most of their goals and his unavailability might see coach David Mandigora giving Walter Mukanga the nod.

While the champions will be in Hwange, Caps United will host league leaders Chicken Inn in a tricky encounter.

The Gamecocks are still waiting for the league to rule on the fate of their abandoned game against Dongo Sawmill last Saturday.

Coach Joey Antipas is undecided on whether to include national team players Danny “Deco” Phiri, centre back Lawrence Mhlanga and striker Edmore Chirambadare, who will jet into the country on Saturday evening from the Warriors’ clash with Comoros.

Brian Juru is seen as direct cover for Phiri while Guide Goddard could replace Mhlanga in the event that the duo is ruled out of the Makepekepe tie.

Mkhokheli Dube, Mitchell Katsvairo and the forgotten Thomas Chimenya are the striking options at Antipas’ disposal.

Tsholotsho make the long trip to the resort town of Kariba for a date with ZPC Kariba while Chapungu and FC Platinum are involved in a Midlands derby.

How Mine are on the road to Mutare where they will take on Buffaloes on Sunday. The gold miners will pin their hopes on Limited Chikafa, Kuda Musharu, Benjamin Marere and Wonder Sithole.