THE Chibuku Super Cup quarter-finals will go ahead as scheduled after national team coaches were forced to drop Dynamos skipper Frank Makarati and Highlanders’ Andrew Mbeba for them to take part in their respective clubs’ weekend matches.
Dynamos and Highlanders had initially lost three players to the Warriors’ squad that will be taking part in a match against The Zebras of Botswana as Zimbabwe’s neighbour celebrates its Independence Day on Saturday.
The two clubs had requested for their respective matches to be postponed as they had three players in the national team.
Highlanders take on Caps United at Barbourfields Stadium on Sunday and Bosso chief executive officer Ronald Moyo yesterday said they were making arrangements for Brito to be available for the crunch tie against the Green Machine.
“We are making arrangements that after the Warriors’ game, Brito flies to Harare and connects to Bulawayo and be available for the Chibuku Super Cup tie. As for the Warriors, I believe Zifa will make a statement but I understand they have dropped Mbeba,” Moyo said.
In Brito’s absence, Madinda Ndlovu will take charge of Bosso.
Brito travelled with his other assistant Antonio Torres to Harare yesterday.
Dynamos, who play FC Platinum, had Makarati, Tanaka Shandirwa and Donald Mudadi in the Warriors’ fold while Highlanders had Mbeba, Peter Muduhwa and Brighton Manhire.
Glamour Boys chief executive officer Jonathan Mashingaidze said assistant coach Lloyd “Mablanyo” Chigove will preside over DeMbare against FC Platinum since head coach Genius Mangombe will be also be with the national team as one of Brito’s assitants.
“The fixture is on. Lloyd Chigove will be in charge and we understand they (Zifa) have dropped Makarati,” Mashingaidze said.
The Premier Soccer League is said to have met with Zifa and advised them to pick at most two players from the clubs so that the cup ties are not affected.
In the other Chibuku Super Cup quarter-finals, Chicken Inn who have goalkeeper Donovan Bernard and defender Xolani Ndlovu in the squad, take on Black Rhinos at Luveve Stadium while Herentals who have instrumental Tinotenda Benza in the Warriors’ camp will clash with Ngezi Platinum Stars on Sunday at Mandava.
Ngezi’s Qadr Amini and goalkeeper Nelson Chadya are in the Warriors camp.
Chibuku Super Cup fixtures
Saturday: Chicken Inn v Black Rhinos (Luveve, 1pm), FC Platinum v Dynamos (Mandava, 3pm)
Sunday: Herentals v Ngezi Platinum Stars (Mandava, 1pm), Highlanders v Caps United (Barbourfields, 3pm)