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Bigboy Mawiwi

Eddie Chikamhi Sports Reporter
HARARE City coach Bigboy Mawiwi, whose side has suffered three straight defeats, says the Sunshine Boys will be hard pressed to start winning games against a background of injuries and match fitness.
Mawiwi’s side face champions Dynamos at the National Sports Stadium on Sunday in a match they need to win to ease the mounting pressure following a poor start to the season.

He was without five of his key players — Nathan Ziwini, Martin Vengesai, Maxwell Nyamupangedengu, Munyaradzi Kunyarimwe and Mhleli Sibanda — through injuries and illness in the match against ZPC Kariba.

“Obviously, the injuries destabilise the team and it will be difficult without some of our key players,” said Mawiwi.
“But I think we have a good squad and we have to play our normal game.

“It happens in football that sometimes you lose matches but we are not giving up hope. We have got a lot of faith. Football is a process.
“I had worked for four or five years with most of the players that we had in our team last season to achieve what we achieved.

“So I believe it’s a matter of time before we get things right and we are not going to exert lots of pressure on the players. We have our season’s target and everyone knows what we are aiming at.”

Dynamos are coming from a fruitful trip in Bulawayo where they thrashed hosts Bantu Rovers 3-1 after overcoming an early first half setback.
FC Platinum coach Lloyd Mutasa will devote most of his focus this week to work on his team’s defensive shortcomings as they aim for their first full set of points when they host CAPS United at Mandava on Sunday.

Mutasa has introduced tiki taka football at Kugona Kunenge Kudada but the results have not been reflective of the way they are dominating their opponents.
FC Platinum conceded two goals in the last 10 minutes against Chicken Inn in Bulawayo on Monday to draw the match 2-2.

“As much as we would have wanted to win all the matches I think it was unfortunate we gave away the chance to do so. If you look at the match that we lost at home against Hwange, they had to come back from 2-0 down.

“The same happened in Bulawayo against Chicken Inn. We had done everything that we could to earn maximum points but it couldn’t be. It appears we are conceding late all the time.

“Generally our team is playing good football and we look forward to a good game against CAPS United and hopefully we start winning beginning with that match,” said Mutasa.

Mutasa will be without midfielder Ali Sadiki and Zambian defender Aaron Katebe who are trying their luck with Congolese side TP Mazembe while lively winger Marshal Mudehwe is out for at least three weeks after picking an injury in the Uhuru Cup final against Dynamos.

Fixtures
Friday
How Mine v Shabanie Mine (Luveve)

Saturday
FC Platinum v CAPS United (Mandava), Black Rhinos v Chiredzi FC (Rimuka, SS), Bantu Rovers v Chapungu (Luveve)

Sunday
Highlanders v Hwange (Barbourfields), Triangle v Chicken Inn (Gibbo), Dynamos v Harare City (NSS, SS), Buffaloes v     ZPC Kariba (Sakubva)