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Eddie Chikamhi Senior Sports Reporter
AFTER finally losing a match in the Castle Lager Premiership on Sunday, after going down to Harare giants Dynamos, newboys Yadah Stars will be hoping to quickly bounce back when they play Bantu Rovers in Bulawayo this afternoon. Dubbed “The Miracle Boys”, Yadah Stars crashed to a 0-1 defeat at the hands of the Glamour Boys despite a dominant display in the second half in which their attacking play caught the eye.

Prophet Walter Magaya, who owns the team and is also its technical advisor, was away in Cape Town when his men tasted their first defeat.

He told The Herald this week that the loss to DeMbare was a self-inflicted wound as they didn’t do what they had planned for that match and paid a huge price.

The football-mad prophet said he will now take an influential role in the team’s preparations, and selection in the wake of the loss to the Glamour Boys.

Today, they face a struggling Bantu Rovers at Luveve.

A win, coupled with other results going their way, could see Yadah getting into second position on the congested top half of the table.

Dutch coach Erol Akbay says his men will not underrate basement side Chapungu in a Castle Lager Premiership League match at Ascot this afternoon.

Bosso are set to introduce their new signings from the Democratic Republic of Congo Yves Ebabali and Tambwe Kalunga after they finally secured their clearances.

“I think this is going to be a difficult game because Chapungu have not won a match. If there was a time they should be aggressive, it is now.

“They will be dangerous with every game they play, so we have to be very careful with them,” said Akbay.

The Bulawayo giants toppled Ngezi Platinum from the apex last week with a 1-0 victory which left them well positioned on 12 points from five starts.

Chapungu are coming from their heaviest defeat this season, following a 4-0 flogging by defending champions CAPS United.

However, Chapungu coach Tendai Chikuni said they are still hoping to get it right despite a spate of injuries that has forced him to tamper with his side a lot.

Striker Raymond Sibanda and fullback Charles Mativenga are still out with injuries while veteran Philip Marufu was yesterday expected to take a fitness test to ascertain his availability for the match.

“We have been making numerous changes to our team of late because of injuries, but we have been working hard to get things right.

“It’s not going to be an easy match though, facing Highlanders who are in top form. But at the end of the day we are in the league to compete,” said Chikuni.

Second-placed Ngezi Platinum have a home test against Shabanie Mine.

Tomorrow, the spotlight will be on Stanford “Stix’’ M’tizwa’s Black Rhinos, who travel to Triangle.

Chauya Chipembere have been impressive on their return to the topflight, with a watertight defence that has only let in one goal in five starts.

Triangle coach Taurayi Mangwiro is still expecting a positive result at home, where they are yet to win a match this season.

“We know that we still owe our supporters a win because we haven’t given them that in the first few matches that we played at home.

“So the game on Sunday provides us with the platform to atone for the games that we couldn’t win. I am sure the victory in our last match at Bulawayo City has motivated us,” said Mangwiro.

Fixtures

Today

ZPC Kariba v Bulawayo City (Nyamhunga), Tsholotsho v Harare City (Dulivhadzimo), Ngezi Platinum v Shabanie Mine (Baobab), Chapungu v Highlanders (Ascot), Bantu Rovers v Yadah FC (Luveve),

Sunday

Chicken Inn v How Mine (Luveve), FC Platinum v Hwange (Maglas), Triangle United v Black Rhinos (Gibbo)

POSTPONED: Dynamos v CAPS United (TBA)