Pitso to give Zim keeper a chance

While this has been necessitated by an injury to goalkeeper Calvin Marlin, Trott Moloto, the Sundowns head of technical, has been on record saying they were looking for ‘one or two’ players from Zimbabwe during their current tour.

Sundowns played their first match against Highlanders at Barbourfields on Wednesday, winning 2-0 thanks to goals from Nyasha Mushekwi in the 13th and 16th minute. In this match, Sundowns used Chicken Inn goalkeeper Liberty Chirava.

The Brazilians will train in Bulawayo on Thursday before heading to Harare on Friday morning for their afternoon clash against Caps United.

Coach Pitso Mosimane, in confirming that Sibanda will guard the goals in Harare, gave his assessment of the game against Highlanders.

“We were more organised technically. We started off slowly but we caught them on the break. We scored two similar goals. It was a good game for us. We need this pressure. We need to see how we fare with other teams in Africa, but we still have a lot to do. We got the right test. We take it up from here and see where we go.

“Nyasha gives us the comfort when he scores the goals. “Esrom [Nyandoro] is key; he controlled the midfield and I wish he was three years younger.”

The Brazilians are likely to have a changed team for Friday’s match, with Teko Modise returning to the line-up while other players on trial like Rashid Sumaila from Ghana and Emmanuel Mathias from Togo will be given further opportunities.

Mamelodi Sundowns team: L Chirava, R Mphahlele, T Langerman, M Mwanjali (R Sumaila 46th), A Schut (E Mathius 46th), E Nyandoro, E Pelembe (S Moriri 82nd), J Shongwe, N Mushekwi (T Zwane 71st), E Manqele (R Henyekane 71st), A Laffor (E Rodgers 76th)