Patson Jaure, Tawanda Muparati out

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CHAMPIONS Dynamos will be without two of their influential players, Patson Jaure and Tawanda Muparati, when they take on Buffaloes

CHAMPIONS Dynamos will be without two of their influential players, Patson Jaure and Tawanda Muparati, when they take on Buffaloes in a Castle Lager Premier Soccer League match at Sakubva Stadium in Mutare this afternoon.

REPORT BY HENRY MHARA

Jaure has been ruled out of the match with a recurring shin injury that saw him miss the plane to Guinea with the national team last week while Muparati is serving suspension for accumulating three yellow cards in the last three matches.

Buffaloes, going through their worst spell this season after picking up just a point in the last six matches, reported a clean bill of health in their camp.

Dynamos coach Kalisto Pasuwa yesterday confirmed Jaure’s injury adding that his team will also miss goalkeeper Artwell Mukandi and defender Byron Madzokere due to knee and back injuries respectively.

“Patson aggravated his injury while playing for the national team against Egypt. The team doctors said he needs some rest to recover,” Pasuwa said.

“Artie is struggling with his knees and Byron has not recovered from the knock he got in a friendly match against Monomotapa last week. This gives us problems as a team because we don’t have consistence in team selection. We are always changing teams every week due to different problems and that certainly affects the overall performance of the squad,” Pasuwa, who has taken a gamble by taking along with him to Mutare Devon Chafa and Ocean Mushure who arrived yesterday from Guinea, added.

“We are not sure if they are match fit after all the travelling, but I don’t have much of a choice. We will have to assess them tomorrow (today),” Pasuwa said. Buffaloes caretaker coach Timothy Masachi will be making his debut on the bench as he tries to rescue the sinking team.

The army side started the season well and at one time were on second position before a sudden turbulence which claimed the coach Saul Chaminuka’s head.

Masachi, a former assistant to Chaminuka believes Wonder Sithole, who was unceremoniously axed at Dynamos last season, could hold the key to his side’s success this afternoon.

“I would have loved to start with any other team and not Dynamos, but they are one of the teams in the league and I will have to face them.

“I have to be strong and see how it goes. My players are prepared for the match and we are looking to get maximum points,” Masachi said.

He added: “Wonder was at Dynamos last season and has so much to prove. I think he will have much influence on the outcome of the match.”

Pasuwa also concurred: “Wonder is a very good player who has a very good eye for goal. Had it not been for injuries, he could still be playing for Dynamos.”

The good news for Dynamos is the return of Boban Bogere who arrived in the country on Monday from Uganda where he was on national duty.

This fixture last season was won by Dynamos, with Murape Murape and Denver Mukamba getting the goals. Ironically, the match was also played midweek.