The Sunday News
Ngqwele Dube Sports Correspondent
WITH the euphoria of their famous triumph over Harare City over, Castle Lager Premier Soccer League debutants Tsholotsho FC are wary of the threat of a wounded Highlanders whom they meet in a league match at Barbourfields Stadium this afternoon. Tsholotsho FC coach Lizwe Sweswe said they will throw all their arsenal at Highlanders as they seek the maximum three points although the soft spoken gaffer admits the match would not be a stroll in the park as their opponents were coming from a painful loss.
Despite the contrasting fortunes the two teams experienced last week, Sweswe says his charges remain the underdogs and will have to fight harder for success.
Bosso will troop into Emagumeni knowing a loss against the Premiership newcomers will leave a big dent in their supporters’ confidence following the 2-0 defeat in the opening game against ZPC Kariba in Harare last weekend.
Highlanders coach Bongani Mafu said his side was ready to face Tsholotsho and have put the bad start behind them and were ready to use the “lessons” learnt to their advantage, while Sweswe said the good start had laid a good foundation for future success.
“Highlanders are giants and losing the first match of the season obviously left them wanting nothing but a win from this game but we have been training well throughout the week and we are ready to throw everything that we have at them,’’ said Sweswe, adding:
“We respect them, we actually take them as our brothers, but we need to collect as many of the three points as possible as we want to avoid relegation and we will fancy our chances when we go into the field tomorrow. They might be the away team, but when they are at Barbourfields they are at home.”
Sweswe said they have been urging their players during the week to forget about their 1-0 win over Harare City, and that they should not live in the comfort zone. He added that the Premiership was a long race and there was no reason to celebrate just one win.
Mafu said he was aware of the threat posed by their opponents. “Tsholotsho would certainly be confident going into the match following a good start and would want to keep up the momentum but we are also ready for them and we expect a tense but exciting game that should be savoured by the crowd,’’ said Mafu, adding that coaching and playing for Highlanders came with a lot of pressure and the same might obtain this afternoon.
While Tsholotsho will be hoping to employ a defensive game while being offensive through the counter-attack, Highlanders have seemingly found it difficult to win a match unless if they went to the break at least either leading or having scored.
Only an early goal seems to guarantee a win for Bosso and if Iziqholo Zezhwane manage to defend well in the first half and prevent the “visitors” from scoring, the result might be in their favour.
Ahead of this encounter Tsholotsho have announced a clean bill of health with all the players available for selection, while Bosso will miss the services of strikers Ozias Zibande, Simba Sithole, Rahman Kutsanzira, King Nadolo and Knox Mutizwa.
Tsholotsho midfielder, Simbarashe Gorogodyo, who scored the club’s first Premiership goal last week and his partners Ocient Ncube, Kriess Chitiyo and Butholezwe Ncube are likely to start the game with Nixon Gama and Kudzanai Machazane upfront.
Bosso will be banking on old workhorse Obadiah Tarumbwa, Tendai Ngulube, and Nqobizitha Masuku, with Gabriel Nyoni and Thomas Chideu expected to come up with the goals while captain, Felix Chindungwe, Douglas Sibanda, Webster Chingodza and Honest Moyo marshal the defence. Njabulo Nyoni, who was in between the posts for the ZPC game could make way for Ariel Sibanda.
In other PSL matches, Hwange will be hoping to bounce back from a 5-2 drubbing they suffered at the hands of Triangle last week as they take on ZPC Kariba at the Colliery.
The availability of head coach, Nation Dube, who was with the Young Warriors, last week, is expected to have a bearing on the game coupled with the coal miners playing at home.
At the National Sports Stadium, Caps United take on FC Platinum in what is expected to be a thrilling tie.
Caps coach Mark Harrison will be eager to continue with the good start, following their win last week while his counterpart, Norman Mapeza would want to win the game to boost their confidence as they head for a Caf Confederations Cup battle against Young Africans of Tanzania who they trail 5-1 on aggregate.
Star-studded How Mine battle new boys, Dongo Sawmills at Vengere in Rusape and the latter proved they are no pushovers when they held FC Platinum to a two all draw at Mandava last week.
