DYNAMOS skipper Frank Makarati returned to training yesterday although his chances of featuring against struggling Cranborne Bullets on Easter Monday are 50/50, according to club coach Herbert Maruwa.
The army side is going into the match in very bad form, having been the only team in the league yet to score a goal in the opening three rounds of matches.
They are also winless in their first three matches, losing two and drawing one to sit second from bottom on the log table.
But they could be facing the Glamour Boys at a good time, as Maruwa could be without a number of key personnel as the log leaders look to return to winning ways.
The trio of Makarati, midfielder Donald Mudadi and defender Kelvin Moyo were all pulled out of the goalless draw against Simba Bhora after suffering head injuries.
Forwards Tendai Matindife and Nyasha Chintuli also failed to last the distance against the promoted side last week.
Midfielder Shadreck Nyahwa who has been struggling with injuries, is back on the treatment table after featuring in last weekend’s encounter.
Mudadi and Chintuli were the first to return to training on Wednesday before they were followed by Makarati who is still bandaged on his head, Matindife and Moyo who all started light training yesterday.
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This could be a welcome development to the team’s supporters, but Nyahwa and second choice goalkeeper Prince Tafiremutsa were on the sidelines being attended to by the team medics.
“He (Makarati) started light training today, and we will continue to assess him,” Maruwa told NewsDay Sport at the team’s training ground yesterday.
“We will get a report from the doctors to see if he is ready for the match. His chances of playing are 50/50.
“Mudadi has also started light training and so is Matindife, so we will see how they will progress. We also have Nyahwa who is down again so we hope he will also recover in time. Prince (goalkeeper) is also struggling with an injury, but we hope he will be OK for the game.
“The team is in good shape save for those guys nursing injuries. Everyone is in high spirits.”
He is, however, wary of Cranborne Bullets who will be fighting with their backs on the wall following their bad start to the new season.
“We are playing a good Cranborne side, so again it’s not an easy match for us. They are a wounded lion but we are preparing very well for them because we know they will try to come hard on us. We need to make sure that we continue with our good run by getting maximum points.
“Cranborne can be very difficult, so we need to be at our best, make sure mentally we are in good shape. We don’t have to give them room to play their normal game,” Maruwa said.
Dynamos, in contrast, has had the best start to their season having won two and drawn one of their first three matches.
The Harare giants currently lead the log standings with seven points but with their rivals playing their matches over the weekend, they could start their Monday afternoon fixture at sixth position.
