The Sunday News
Mehluli Sibanda Acting Sports Editor
BULAWAYO giants Highlanders coach Kelvin Kaindu is back from the United Kingdom where he was winding up his coaching studies and takes his team on a long journey to the country’s Lowveld to face Chiredzi at Chishamiso Stadium tomorrow.
Kaindu was not in charge when Bosso defeated Harare City 1-0 through a Khumbulani Banda strike in an Independence Cup third place play-off at White City Stadium and it was his assistant Mark Mathe who was barking the instructions.
The Zambian arrived yesterday and immediately took charge of the team’s training session ahead of their departure this morning for Chiredzi where they take on the Moses Chunga coached newboys.
Highlanders last season made one trip to the Lowveld which ended in success when they conquered Triangle 2-1 at Gibbo Stadium with the goals for Bosso coming from Bruce Kangwa and Masimba Mambare.
However, Kaindu does not have good memories of the last visit to that part of the country as he was sent off for protesting against the referee’s decision.
Highlanders who drew 0-0 against Chapungu in their opening fixture of the season away in Gweru registered their first win last Sunday when they clobbered Shabanie Mine 4-1 at Barbourfields Stadium with goals coming from two well-taken penalties by goalkeeper Munyaradzi Diya and a goal apiece from exciting Knox Mutizwa and Milton Ncube.
Ariel Sibanda was in superb form against Harare City with some point blank saves which saw him being voted man of the match by journalists covering the match.
Dumisani “Fazo” Ndlovu was resolute in defence and is sure to make up the Bosso rearguard with skipper Innocent Mapuranga and Kangwa. The right back position has been problematic for Highlanders with Simon Munawa and Erick Mudzingwa being tried there but Bosso might have found a solution in Graciano Chakafana, an 18-year-old club junior who played well on the right side of the Bosso defence at the packed White City Stadium.
Peter “Rio” Moyo, absent from the team when Highlanders took on Shabanie was brought on as a substitute for Valentine Ndaba on Friday and looks set to make up the midfield department but will compete for the starting slot with Rahman Kutsanzira, Mthulisi Maphosa, Mutizwa, Welcome Ndiweni, Kudakwashe Mahachi and Hillary Madzivanyika.
Highlanders will have to do without striker Gabriel Nyoni who was injured against Shabanie and has been ruled out for weeks. The good news for Bosso is that Cleopas Dube has made a full recovery to the injury which ruled him out of the Shabanie clash. The big forward was on the bench at White City and carries the goal scoring expectations for Amahlolanyama together with Charles Sibanda, Ncube and Ozias Zibande.
For Chunga’s boys, life has been difficult so far at the top with the newly promoted side having picked up just a point from a possible six and they find themselves third from bottom. They did make an impressive start with a 1-1 draw against big spending FC Platinum but were brought down to earth by fellow Lowveld side Triangle who thrashed them 3-1 at Gibbo last Sunday.
Chunga, famous for giving young players a chance wherever he is in charge has a few players with experience in top flight football. These are the nomadic Norman Maroto and Rowen Nenzou.
