HIGHLANDERS coach Madinda Ndlovu believes his team is beginning to feel the effects of a hectic away schedule in the Castle Lager Premier Soccer League as he braces for a tricky Chibuku Super Cup Super Cup first round match against Yadah FC at Barbourfields on Sunday.
The Bulawayo giants have struggled to kick on from their impressive win 3-0 over rivals Dynamos earlier this month after losing successive away league matches against Mutare City Rovers (1-0) and ZPC Kariba (2-1) last week.
Speaking during his team’s weekly press conference on Thursday, Ndlovu said his players, who travelled close to 200km by road between Tuesday and Saturday were still feeling the effects of the gruelling road trip.
“You can see at training that the boys are still tired and their bodies are not yet back into shape. We will need a lot of nutritious stuff to take and maybe supplements to try and get them back into good shape for the weekend game,” Ndlovu said.
The Bosso gaffer is however, optimistic that his charges will have fully recovered on Sunday as they seek to put an end to a two match losing streak.
In fact, Ndlovu believes the hectic travel schedule they experienced last week will serve as a lesson to his youthful side.
“This experience has really taken much out of their bodies. We will see what we will come up with over the weekend but we still have that challenge of the effects of the trip that we embarked on last week,” Ndlovu said.
He added: “When I analyse the whole thing; it was a very good lesson for the youngsters.
“It was a very good learning curve for them to understand what Premier Soccer League can be all about.
“Not reading much into the results that we brought from those two away games because of other reasons beyond our control; we put behind us whatever has transpired and look forward to the coming games.”
Highlanders will be hoping to cap their season with a good run in the Chibuku Super Cup after a decent run in the Castle Lager Premier Soccer League as Ndlovu’s rebuilding mission takes shape.
Bosso are however, sweating over the availability of Mbongeni Ndlovu ahead of the tricky tie against Yadah after the talented left-back suffered an injury during the league match against Mutare City at Vhengere.
There is however, some good news for the Highlanders technical team as influential midfielder Adrian Silla is expected to make a return after missing the match against ZPC Kariba due to a family bereavement.
Chibuku Super Cup first round matchesFixturesFriday: Harare City v Bulawayo City (Rufaro)
Saturday: FC Platinum v Chapungu (Mandava), Ngezi Platinum Stars v Herentals (Baobab), Black Rhinos v Nichrut (National Sports Stadium), Dynamos v Bulawayo Chiefs (Rufaro)
Sunday: Highlanders v Yadah (Barbourfields), Caps United v ZPC Kariba (National Sports Stadium), Triangle United v Shabanie Mine (Gibbo).
