The Sunday News
RELEGATION-haunted Tsholotsho should not expect any favours from resurgent Highlanders when the two clash in a Castle Lager Premier Soccer League encounter at Barbourfields Stadium this afternoon.Tsholotsho are entangled in a battle for survival with Buffaloes, the Matabeleland North side holding the edge with two matches to go.
Heading into this weekend’s round of fixtures, Iziqholo zeZhwane had a one point advantage over Buffaloes who are away to Triangle at Gibbo this afternoon.
Highlanders, who at some stage found themselves in an unfamiliar 11th position on the log, have gone up to a sixth placing, thanks to a 4-2 win over Hwange last Wednesday.
Highlanders’ head of the technical department Cosmas “Tsano” Zulu said they were not going to show any mercy to Tsholotsho. Zulu declared that if Tsholotsho wanted to beat them, they have to play better than FC Platinum and Hwange, the teams Bosso beat recently.
Zulu’s reasoning is that since they are on 38 points, the same number as Harare City, Hwange and Chapungu, any slip up in the last two matches could see them slide down the log to 10th place, something which has financial consequences as some competitions are only reserved for teams which finish in the top eight.
Bosso have now gone for six matches unbeaten, five of those matches in the league and the other in the EasyCall Cup quarter-final against FC Platinum. In the league, Highlanders have four wins and one draw from their last five matches.
“We have now gone six matches unbeaten, Tsholotsho is a tricky game, and for us we are chasing a couple of things. There are four teams on 38 points, if we lose any of the matches we could go down the log. If we win our last two games, we can finish fourth or fifth. Finishing outside the top eight costs a lot of money to the club because some competitions are reserved for the top eight finishers.
“We as Highlanders are professionals, we cannot be seen doing an unprofessional thing. We are fielding a strong team against Tsholotsho, we will never do such kind of favour. We are not going to do any favours, if they are going to beat us they must earn it,’’ said Zulu.
Zulu, however, admitted that the match will not be a stroll in the park as Tsholotsho had a good schemer in coach Lizwe Sweswe and his assistant Bongani Mafu. The former Bosso coach, Mafu, could prove a decisive factor in the fixture as he has inside information on the Highlanders players.
Tsholotsho have not lost a match since they roped in Mafu to assist Sweswe at the end of September. The Naughty Boys have not tasted defeat in their last five matches with wins over Whawha, Hwange while recording draws against Buffaloes, FC Platinum and champions Chicken Inn.
Highlanders, without hard man Douglas Sibanda who is suspended after accumulating three yellow cards and Erick Mudzingwa who was sent off against Hwange, will once again look to their man of the moment Knox Mutizwa, the league’s leading goal scorer with 14 goals, a feat that makes him favourite to walk away with the Golden Boot award worth
$4 000.
Mutizwa, who last Friday committed to Highlanders by signing a one year contract extension, has formed a feared striking pairing with Obadiah Tarumbwa and of late with the seasoned Ralph Matema.
The Highlanders strikers will have to be on top of their game to get past the resolute Tsholotsho defence expected to be commanded by influential captain William Stima.
In other matches lined up for this afternoon, How Mine meet already demoted Dongo Sawmill at Luveve, Whawha, who have also kissed top flight football goodbye clash with Flame Lily at Ascot while Triangle will be looking to preserve their fourth position when they meet Buffaloes at Gibbo.
Fixtures
Today: How Mine v Dongo Sawmill (Luveve Stadium), Highlanders v Tsholotsho (Barbourfields Stadium), Whawha v Flame Lily (Ascot Stadium), Triangle United v Buffaloes (Gibbo Stadium)
