DIASPORA INTERVENTION?… as Bosso, DeMbare clash in colossal battle

26 Jul, 2015 - 00:07 0 Views
DIASPORA INTERVENTION?… as Bosso, DeMbare clash in colossal battle

The Sunday News

WITH memories of the reverse fixture still fresh in the minds of the fans, Highlanders and Dynamos go up against each other again at Barbourfields Stadium this afternoon in what should be an explosive Castle Lager Premier Soccer League clash.

Controversy marred the reverse fixture which ended in a 3-2 triumph for Dynamos at Rufaro Stadium where Highlanders felt cheated when assistant referee Bongani Gadzikwa denied them a genuine goal from Edmore Muzanenhamo which would have made it 3-3.

Referee Norman Matemera, is also not short of notoriety, had awarded the goal, but had to change that decision as his assistant kept his flag up for offside.

Gadzikwa earned himself a suspension from the Zimbabwe Referees Committee for that blunder which cost Highlanders a share of the spoils at the least.

With today’s match again being televised live on Supersport, the match officials will be under the spotlight with the decisions they make likely to be scrutinised.

Beleaguered Highlanders coach Bongani Mafu challenged the match officials to be at their best to avoid cases of violence.

Mafu also called upon Dynamos to curb certain behaviour from players such as Roderick Mutuma who have a tendency of provoking fans each time he came to Barbourfields.

Highlanders have not defeated Dynamos and there are three points at stake since 2006 and it is something that will be ringing in the Bosso players’ heads when they run out of the tunnel this afternoon.

The Highlanders’ coach said they were drained by talk of not having beaten Dynamos for years, and that if they failed to upset the applecart this afternoon, it would not be because of effort to achieve that feat.

On Thursday at their weekly Press briefing at the club offices Mafu described the second half of the season as having brought a new feel among his players.

“Every game at this level is a pressure pot, Dynamos bring with them special pressure. The second half of the season has brought with it a new feel into the team. We are all tired of this talk of not having beaten Dynamos, if we get beaten it is not because we didn’t try,’’ said Mafu.

Highlanders and Dynamos have posted similar results in their past two fixtures as both their fixtures ended in 1-1 and 0-0 stalemates. Dynamos collected a point away at Hwange before they played a nil all draw against the coal miners in Harare while Highlanders dropped a point at home to Triangle and then went on to conjure another draw a week later away from home.

Highlanders are close to a crisis point in their goalkeeping department with only Aerial Sibanda and Njabulo Nyoni up for selection. The other goalkeeper Takunda Mutanga seems to be on his way out over disciplinary issues. Signed from Bantu Rovers, Mutanga is said to be causing Mafu headaches as he has a tendency of being absent from training without any good reason.

All is pointing to Nyoni, in goals in the back to back encounters against Triangle as the man to guard the goals against Dynamos this afternoon. Skipper Felix Chindungwe, Teenage Hadebe, Webster Chingodza, Erick Mudzingwa, Douglas Sibanda, Honest Moyo and Bruce Kangwa are vying for a slot in defence. Kangwa and Sibanda were used in midfield against Triangle with the latter reverting to the anchorman role he used to play before he was turned into a defender.

Mthulisi Maphosa, King Nadolo, Simon Munawa, Godfrey Makaruse, Nqobizitha Masuku and Rahman Kutsanzira are some of the available options for Mafu in midfield, where the match will definitely be won.

The combination between Obadiah Tarumbwa and Knox Mutizwa has worked wonders for Highlanders with the coach likely to start with those upfront. Giant striker Obert “Adebayor” Tafira, the latest acquisition for Highlanders is certain to get a feel of the biggest game in Zimbabwean club football off the bench.

Speedy forward Gabriel Nyoni is ruled out by injury with Muzanenhamo missing the match through suspension.

Bosso could have another surprise in forward Thembinkosi Simango who arrived late in the week from Ngezi Platinum where he claimed he banged in eight goals in nine matches. The 25-year-old might be thrown into the fray, in the event that he has been registered with the Premier Soccer League.

David “Yogi” Mandigora, the Dynamos coach yesterday revealed that the Glamour Boys could go into the clash without the injured Elisha Muroiwa, Blessing Moyo and Ronald Chitiyo. In addition to that, striker Dominic Chungwa has left the club, reportedly for his former side Caps United.

However, Dynamos are most likely to unleash bustling forward Takesure Chinyama who together with Richard Kawondera and Mutuma could prove handful for the Bosso defenders to handle. Chinyama scored a thunderbolt when Dynamos and Highlanders drew 1-1 in Bulawayo three years ago.

Mandigora feels both sides are under pressure with Highlanders out to end the nine year jinx while the current crop of Dynamos players do not want to be the first to be beaten by Bosso after such a long time.

“We are under pressure, both teams are under pressure. Highlanders have not beaten Dynamos in a long time, my players don’t want to be the first to lose to Highlanders after all these years. It is going to be a tight game, we have told our players to fight till the end. The team that plays better during the 90 minutes will take the game, these are unpredictable matches,’’ said Mandigora.

Whatever the outcome this afternoon, fans are sure to get the value of their money.

Meanwhile, Highlanders were given a timely boost when the Johannesburg, South Africa supporters chapter presented the club with two match balls, five for training, 30 cons and 40 bibs. The South Africa-based group also made donations to the child of the late Highlanders fan Thembelenkosini Hloli who died as a result of injuries sustained in the violence which occurred after the clash between the two teams in Bulawayo last year.

Fixtures

Today: Highlanders v Dynamos (Barbourfields Stadium), Dongo Sawmills v Chicken Inn (Vengere Stadium) Hwange v How Mine (Colliery Stadium), Buffaloes v FC Platinum (Sakubva Stadium), Caps United v Harare City (National Sports Stadium)

 

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