The Sunday News
Mehluli Sibanda, Senior Sports Reporter
THE last time Shabanie Mine took on Highlanders at Barbourfields Stadium, they walked away with the valuable three points.
It was just over a year ago when Nelson Maziwisa’s header gave the Chinda Boys a rare win over Bosso in a Castle Lager Premier encounter at Emagumeni. Referee Thomas Masaa flashed two red cards, one to each team in what was an emotionally charged fixture.
With the kind of football Highlanders have displayed so far this season it is hard to imagine them losing at Barbourfields. Bosso have had a brilliant start to this season as they are yet to taste defeat in the league. The Madinda Ndlovu-coached Bosso have won four and drawn two of the six league matches for a points tally of 14 which saw them third heading into this weekend’s matches.
Ndlovu said they are more than hospitable to whoever comes to take them on at Barbourfields but the friendliness does not extend to the playing field.
“We are very much welcoming to the teams that come to take us on at Barbourfields, we are welcoming, but when it comes to the field its business as usual, we do our business, they do their business. If they are much stronger than us, they will get the three points, if they are not stronger than us, then we smile again at the end of the game,’’ Ndlovu said.
He feels that for his players to get better, they need to continue posting positive results which will boost their self-belief.
“We are doing all we can to get the three points, we have to mature with the results, the boys have to mature with the feel of winning games, that’s the only thing that can give them confidence to get to their desired goals.”
Ndlovu indicated that he felt for his players when they took on Chicken Inn last Sunday. A total of 10 447 fans paid to watch Highlanders take on Chicken Inn but with the Gamecocks at home, they smiled all the way to bank even though the bulk of those fans belonged to Bosso. The Highlanders coach appealed to his team’s supporters to come out in their numbers yet again this afternoon to ensure that the club gets the much needed finances which they use to pay players winning bonuses.
“I was a bit touched the last game, you play such good football, fill the stadium, you are away, you get nothing. Now we are playing Shabanie, our supporters shouldn’t say Shabanie because the football that we are going to play is the same. What we are crying for is that they should come as many as they can to fill up the stadium, we will give them the entertainment, that’s guaranteed,’’ the Bosso coach said.
Shabanie Mine have won one, drawn four and lost once so far this season and were in the eighth spot heading into week seven of the season. Some of their notable results were the 3-3 draw away to Dynamos last month and the 1-1 stalemate against Ngezi Platinum Stars at home last Sunday, a result which denied Tonderai Ndiraya’s men a sixth consecutive win of the season. It is for this reason that Bosso gaffer is not taking Bvaru Bvaru lightly.
“If you look at the results that they have got in their last games, they went away to Dynamos, got a point, they held Ngezi, so they are not bad, we have to treat them with a lot of care. We will entertain them but if an opening comes our way, iyasukuma iSoweto (the fans by the Soweto Stand will get off their seats),’’ Ndlovu said.
Injuries have affected Highlanders with defenders Bukhosi Ncube and Tendai Ndlovu sidelined by injury. Skipper Honest Moyo and right back MacClive Phiri could not travel to Harare to play for the Warriors against Botswana since they were not fully fit. Ndlovu was hoping that the duo pass a late fitness test to be considered for selection this afternoon.
Bosso impressive midfielder Adrian Silla has been ruled out after accumulating three yellow cards. This gives an opportunity to Patrick Musaka to start at the defensive midfielder’s position where Silla has been outstanding.
Peter Muduhwa, Charlton Siamalonga, Moyo and Phiri should make up the Bosso rearguard to provide cover for Ariel Sibanda. Nigel Makumbe, Musaka, Godfrey Makaruse, Brian Banda as well as Gabriel Nyoni have been in superb form and should create opportunities for Ozias Zibande.
The biggest game of the weekend is certainly the Harare derby between Caps United and struggling Dynamos at the National Sports Stadium while Chapungu clash with Herentals at Ascot in the other match lined up for this afternoon.
Fixtures
Today: Caps United v Dynamos (NSS), Highlanders v Shabanie Mine (Barbourfields), Chapungu v Herentals (Ascot).
@Mdawini_29
