The Sunday News
Mehluli Sibanda, Senior Sports Reporter
FOOTBALL fans are in for a treat when the country’s most followed football teams, Highlanders and Dynamos collide in the Independence Cup final at Barbourfields Stadium tomorrow as both teams will be at full strength for the match to be witnessed by President Mnangagwa.
The match kicks off at 2PM. Highlanders coach Mandla “Lulu” Mpofu made it clear that while there was a temptation to field fringe players, he was throwing in his best against Bosso’s fierce rivals.
“On Monday I am bringing full strength Highlanders, it’s a full strength team that will play. As much as you want to make sure that we give these other players game time, it’s not an easy game, we will not go there and try make some experiment. We are going full force with first team players,’’ said Mpofu.
The Bosso coach is keeping his fingers crossed that Nqobizitha Masuku is fully fit to face the Glamour Boys. Masuku missed the league encounter against Cranborne Bullets because of an ankle injury he picked up against Triangle.
Despite being a defensive midfielder, Masuku is Bosso’s leading goal scorer in the league with five goals so far, three of them from free kicks, which makes him a key player for Amahlolanyama.
“Stanley (Ngala) is back, he trained with the rest of the guys fully with contact. Nqo (Masuku) is back training, better than the last week, we just hope by Monday he will be fit to play, if not then we can’t force it, we need to protect him as much as possible,’’ said a hopeful Mpofu.
Looking at the Dynamos squad that travelled to Bulawayo, Taimon Mvula, Partson Jaure, Godknows Murwira, Frank Makarati, Emmanuel Jalai, Bill Antonio, Emmanuel Paga, Shadreck Nyahwa, Evans Katema and Ralph Kawondera are all regular first team players at Dynamos, which means DeMbare coach Tonderai Ndiraya is also not taking chances.
Tinashe Makanda, who moved to Dynamos last year from Highlanders, is also part of the DeMbare team that is in Bulawayo and could be thrown in against his former pay masters.
In last year’s Independence Cup final, Dynamos won 2-0 at the National Sports Stadium in a match. Mistakes by skipper Ariel Sibanda and one his deputies Peter Muduhwa cost Bosso on that day.
The Bosso skipper declared that he had recovered from last year’s final was ready to fight tomorrow. “I have played so many games for Highlanders and it’s not the only mistake that I’ve done, so it’s still the same attitude, I’ve recovered from it and I’ve forgotten about it and look forward to have a positive result on Monday.
We have forgotten about the past, we are looking forward to bringing the cup to Bulawayo,’’ stated the Bosso skipper.
Highlanders and Dynamos have gone for six matches without losing but one of the two will have that broken since there has to be a winner, with the match heading for penalties if there is a stalemate.
Winners will pocket ZWL$6 million while the runners up have ZWL$4, 5 million waiting for them.
Chief Director in the Ministry of Youth, Sport, Arts and Recreation, Benson Dube confirmed the prize money last night.
He put emphasis on that there is no loser in tomorrow match and that supporters of both teams must come enjoy football in a peaceful atmosphere.
“We are preaching peace, unity, we want it to be peaceful. There are no losers in this match, there will be runners up. We are happy the celebrations have come to Bulawayo.
We are appealing to supporters of Highlanders and Dynamos supporters to support the Independence celebrations in peace. Let’s set aside the rivalry, we want unity,’’ said Dube.
Both teams will today tour the city with the Independence Flame across western suburbs.
– @Mdawini_29
