KC Current’s Temwa and Bia set for continued minutes restriction
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — The Kansas City Current will have their explosive attackers Temwa Chawinga and Bia Zaneratto for a limited time on the pitch going forward.
Both have been on minutes restrictions to start the season.
Bia played in the first half of the season opener against the Portland Thorns and 72 minutes against the San Diego Wave on Saturday. The Brazilian striker scored a goal in the season opener recording two shots and won a penalty kick that helped the Current beat the Wave.
Chawinga played in the last 27 minutes of the season opener and notched an assist. She started against SD on the left wing also for 72 minutes and recorded four shots with two chances created while being a menace on defense with her consistent pressure.
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On Wednesday, head coach Vlatko Andonovski said he was pleased with their play against the Wave but they will both be playing even fewer minutes for management purposes.
“With the science and numbers and everything, we’re probably not gonna see them as long on the field. If we see them, at this point, they’re about 25-30 minutes,” he said. “We’ll see. Maybe things change until the game.”
The Current are 2-0-0 and host Angel City FC at CPKC Stadium on Saturday at 2:30 p.m. With a 26-game NWSL season along with NWSL x Liga MX Femenil Summer Cup matches and potentially being selected for The Women’s Cup, the Current could play nearly 40 matches this season.
“Management and make sure that we don’t jeopardize anything,” Andonovski said. “Like I said, we’re going to evaluate everything as the week goes by and figure out but right now, it’s about 25-30 minutes that we’re expecting.”
The Current already are missing Brazilian striker Debinha (hamstring), forward Michelle Cooper (calf), midfielder Hanna Glas (knee), forward Nichelle Prince (calf), midfielder Mallory Weber (knee) and defensive midfielder Desiree Scott (knee) due to injury.
Defender Hailie Mace also missed the match against the Wave with a hip injury and rehabbed her injury on Wednesday.
Glas, Weber, and Scott are all returning from the season-ending injury list that they were on last season. Glas and Scott participated in training on Wednesday.
With so few minutes expected from Bia and Temwa, the starting lineup could change tremendously but the Current have depth with veterans Kristen Hamilton and Claire Lavogez who could step in along with 16-year-old Alex Pfeiffer who played the second half of the season and scored a goal but only 15 minutes against SD.
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As the international players shake up the lineup with their minutes, the club is excited for Chawinga because of her exceptional speed and agility along with her movement between defenders.
“I want to see it as soon as possible but I think it’s gonna take a little bit of time,” Andonovski said. “With the little injuries that she had and also just adjusting to the environment, adjusting to the league, so will probably take a few more weeks.”
“She will create something out of nothing. She does have the ability to do that. We’re just hoping that in the next one, she’ll score one.”
