HIGHLANDERS captain and goalkeeper Ariel Sibanda is a major doubt for his team’s blockbuster clash against Dynamos in the two teams’ season opener next week.
Bosso host their fiercest rivals at Barbourfields Stadium in the marquee clash of matchday one fixture programme of the 2024 Castle Lager Premier Soccer League campaign, but could be without one of their key players for the epic match.
Sibanda has been conspicuously absent from Highlanders’ pre-season games, raising fears that he has not recovered from the injury he picked at the tail end of last season.
The veteran goalkeeper was allowed to join the team’s pre-season camp late to give him time to recover from leg injury.
Bosso played two high-profile friendly matches recently as they gear up for the upcoming season set to kickoff on the first weekend of March.
They beat Green Fuel a fortnight ago in Gweru, before overcoming Bulawayo Chiefs at Luveve Stadium at the weekend.
The Soccer Star of the Year finalist did not feature in both matches, with Raphael Pitisi taking charge between the ticks for the Bulawayo giants.
Club spokesperson Nozibelo Maphosa and team doctor Shepherd Khumalo both played down Sibanda’s absence in the two preparatory matches.
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“Ariel is okay and training with the rest of the squad,” Khumalo said yesterday.
But speaking after the Chiefs game on Sunday, assistant coach Try Ncube hinted that Sibanda was recovering from an injury.
“Ariel is progressing very well. I think he will be back in a few weeks’ time. I cannot say if he will be available or not when the season starts,” he said.
Ncube confirmed that some players were in the treatment room.
“We have two or three players who are nursing injuries, but they are not big injuries; they will be back soon,” he said.
Andrew Mbeba was on target in the 1-0 against Green Fuel, while Lynoth Chikuhwa nicked a brace as Bosso despatched their city rivals Chiefs 2-1.
Chikuhwa has been partnering new signing Brighton Ncube upfront in the matches played so far, while another new recruit, Reason Sibanda, is in midfield.
Malvin Sibanda, who joined from a club in the United States lower league, featured for Bosso’s reserve side over the weekend in a line-up that also had young sensation Prince Ndlovu and defender Andrew Tandi, who has fully recovered from a horror injury he sustained in this fixture two years ago.
