The Sunday News
Ngqwele Dube Sports Correspondent
DESPITE struggling to find their footing in the Castle Lager Premier Soccer League, new boys, Dongo Sawmills are angling for the Highlanders scalp when they clash this afternoon in a league match at Vengere Stadium in Rusape. The 2014 Eastern Region champions have not had a rosy start to life in the Premiership and they are yet to taste victory having drawn two and lost three of their first five matches.
Dongo Sawmills director Francis Dongo said his side had been inspired by Chapungu United’s change of fortunes and that they believed they could use the match against Highlanders to turn a new leaf by collecting maximum points although they had “huge respect’’ for the Bulawayo giants.
Dongo said they held Highlanders in high esteem and will not be fooled by the turbulent times the Bulawayo giants were going through.
He said Highlanders had a huge and rich history and are among the top teams in the country, compared to his side which he said was a new kid on the block and still had a lot to learn from the former champions.
“The aim is to start collecting maximum points and I think once we win one game our confidence will be boosted and we can win many more matches. Just look at how Chapungu went from being the only team yet to score a single goal in the PSL to winning two matches in a row. We believe we can also make it and we can use tomorrow’s match to give us the boost we need,” said Dongo.
The Rusape-based side seem to be much stronger away than from home as they have lost the two games they played at home against How Mine (1-2) and Triangle (0-1), while they have a better away record having settled for draws against FC Platinum and ZPC Kariba, while they lost to Dynamos.
Highlanders will break a record of being the first team to fall at Vhengere this season, to add on to numerous other records they have broken this season.
Bongani Mafu’s lads lost their first match of the season in 18 years when they were beaten by ZPC Kariba, before becoming the first team to hand Chapungu a goal in the airmen’s first win of the season.
Mafu was, however, upbeat ahead of the match, telling journalists on Thursday that his side would be back to winning ways starting with today’s encounter.
“We know we are going to a team that is hard to beat in their own pitch but we are Highlanders and regardless of past results we hope to do well and we are geared for a win. We surely had a bad day in office when we played Chapungu and we are mightily sorry, especially to our fans who had to watch that shambolic display where we were all off-form but we need to get inspiration from that and work even harder,” he said.
Mafu said without using injuries as excuse, it was unfortunate they had lost eight regular players a scenario that had made it difficult for the team to remain competitive.
Players still in the injury bay, according to Mafu, were Obadiah Tarumbwa, Mthulisi Maphosa, Njabulo Nyoni, Douglas Sibanda and King Nadolo, while Ozias Zibande, Simba Sithole and Rahman Kutsanzira were subject to late fitness tests.
Meanwhile, Tsholotsho square off against Mutare-side Buffaloes at Luveve Stadium this afternoon. The visitors are finding the going tough so far and are still to find a win in five matches.
On the other hand, the Lizwe Sweswe-coached Tsholotsho have two wins, a feat that could prove a motivating factor for a third victory today, a possibility if form is anything to go by.
While Tsholotsho had the pleasure of dispatching fellow newcomers Whawha, 2-0 in their last match, Buffaloes were held to a draw by Hwange.
At Ascot Hwange will be seeking their first full set of three points against a resurgent Chapungu who appear to be on the rise following victories over Highlanders and ZPC Kariba on the trot.
Fixtures
Caps United v ZPC Kariba (NSS), Dongo Sawmills v Highlanders (Vengere), Chapungu v Hwange (Ascot), Tsholotsho v Buffaloes (White City).
