The Sunday News
Mehluli Sibanda Acting Sports Editor
HWANGE coach Nation Dube is unperturbed by Highlanders’ dominance over his team in the last couple of years as the two inform teams clash in what promises to be an explosive Castle Lager Premier Soccer League encounter at Barbourfields Stadium this afternoon.
The coal miners last recorded a win over the Bulawayo giants in June 2011 when under the tutelage of Zambian Tennant Chilumba and on that day Chipangano triumphed 1-0 at Emagumeni, the spiritual home of football. It was one of the best seasons for Hwange as they went on to finish fourth on the log standings.
Highlanders have, however, since then had the upper hand as they have won all the five matches after that defeat at home. Interestingly, Bosso have won by an identical scoreline of 1-0 home and away, an indication that there is little that separates the two teams.
Dube is not a concerned man as he believes that the past does not count and the better team will win, a feeling also shared by Highlanders coach Kelvin Kaindu.
“Every game we play we always look for a positive result when we don’t get it it’s part of the game. We are coming to Bulawayo looking for a good result. All the matches we have played against Highlanders have been close and whichever team takes its chances wins so their dominance over us means nothing to me,’’ said Dube.
The Hwange coach rubbished media reports that his team was holding a clandestine camp ahead of the clash against Highlanders and said they were in Hwange during the whole week.
“We were in Hwange the whole week, we trained there so I was surprised to read that we were in a secret camp. There is nothing special about Highlanders, we play in the same league so we prepared for them the same way we would prepare for any other team,’’ Dube said.
Kaindu, who arrived on Friday from his motherland Zambia and headed straight to the Bosso training session said they held Hwange in high esteem since the coalminers are enjoying a good run so far this season.
The Zambian has won all the four matches against Hwange but is aware today’s encounter is not going to be an easy one.
“We respect Hwange, they are a good side that is enjoying good form so the better side will win. As much as we want to keep our good record against them it is not going to be easy,’’ said Kaindu.
The two teams have seven points each with two wins and a draw with none of them yet to taste defeat. Hwange will need to be better than their last outing if they are to beat Highlanders in front of their adoring fans.
Hwange had to come from behind to earn a 1-1 against Triangle at the Colliery Stadium last Sunday while Bosso routed Chiredzi 3-0 at Chishamiso Stadium the following day.
Skipper Rodwell Chinyengetere, enjoying a new lease of life after a lengthy lay off from the game leads the Hwange charge with goalkeeper Takabva Mawaya, David Boriwondo, Gerald Ndlovu, Munyaradzi Mungadze, Evans Rusike, Eric Chipeta, Tafara Chese and Aleck Marime expected to play a leading role.
For Highlanders, Munyaradzi Diya is once again expected to maintain his place in between the posts after keeping a clean sheet against Chiredzi. Skipper Innocent Mapuranga, Simon Munawa, Bruce Kangwa and Dumisani Ndlovu should be the men tasked with keeping Chinyengetere and the rest of the Hwange strikeforce at bay.
Youngster Knox Mutizwa has been in superb form for Highlanders and is repaying Kaindu for keeping him at the club when he offloaded some of the players from last season. Mutizwa has been brilliant especially on the wing and Bosso fans must have gotten over losing Masimba Mambare as Mutizwa seems to have fitted well into that role.
Mutizwa is sure to be given a run in the middle of the park with Kudakwashe Mahachi, Mthulisi Maphosa, and Erick Mudzingwa. Other options in midfield for Kaindu are Welcome Ndiweni and Rahman Kutsanzira. Milton Ncube, Ozias Zibande and Charles Sibanda are the men where the goals are expected to come from this afternoon.
In other fixtures set for this afternoon, Triangle take on Chicken Inn at Gibbo Stadium, defending champions Dynamos square off against struggling Harare City at the National Sports Stadium while Buffaloes entertain ZPC Kariba at Sakubva Stadium.
Fixtures
Today: Highlanders v Hwange (Barbourfields Stadium), Triangle v Chicken Inn (Gibbo Stadium), Dynamos v Harare City (National Sports Stadium), Buffaloes v ZPC Kariba (Sakubva Stadium).
