The Sunday News
Mehluli Sibanda Senior Sports Reporter —
HIGHLANDERS will look to return to winning ways when they meet a hard to crack Tsholotsho in a Castle Lager Premier Soccer League contest at Barbourfields Stadium this afternoon. The Bulawayo football giants saw their perfect start to the season dented by a 2-1 loss to FC Platinum at Emagumeni. Lizwe Sweswe’s boys on the other hand went down 2-1 to FC Platinum in their opening match of the season before they recorded a gutsy 1-0 triumph over Bulawayo City.
Bosso would be better advised not to take Iziqholo Ze Zhwane lightly for they are capable of inflicting an upset.
Highlanders coach Erol Akbay declared during the club arranged Press conference that he was not going to alter his playing style to suit the opponents and it should be the other way round instead. Bosso have created lots of goal scoring opportunities in their last few matches but their strikers have been found wanting in front of goal coupled with poor midfield display that has always proved second best to their opponents. And is that what Akbay alluded to by saying they won’t change their style of play.
“I am not changing my tactics to suit anybody, with our style of play we can beat Tsholotsho,’’ said Akbay.
Highlanders have played for the early stages of the season with a familiar starting line up and are unlikely to make any changes as Akbay looks to have come up with his concrete 11.
Skipper Felix Chindungwe, Tendai Ndlovu, Honest Moyo and Benson Phiri look certain to form the Bosso rearguard and provide ample cover at the back for goalkeeper Ariel Sibanda. Erick Mudzingwa has made good recovery from injury and could be thrown into the heart of defence to partner Chindungwe at the expense of Ndlovu.
Simon Munawa, King Nadolo, Rahman Kutsanzira, Douglas Sibanda, Bruce Kangwa, Godfrey Makaruse and Adrian Silla are vying for slots in the middle of the park. Highlanders have shown some weaknesses in midfield in their past matches which has allowed the opposition to dictate the pace in that department and they have to do well this afternoon to have control in that area if they are to have an impact in the match.
Knox Mutizwa, Price Dube and Kasimero Chimbadzwa are the options upfront for Akbay. Veteran forward Ralph Matema is still ruled out by injury.
Tsholotsho skipper William Stima was quoted by our sister newspaper Chronicle stating that they were not afraid of Highlanders. His courage could be drawn from the fact that they only lost by a single goal margin in the two meetings between the two teams last season. Highlanders beat Tsholotsho 1-0 and 2-1 with both fixtures played at Barbourfields Stadium.
Stima makes up a solid Tsholotsho defence that also has the impressive Thando Ncube and MacClive Phiri. Butholezwe Ncube, a Highlanders junior product is a good midfielder who should combine well with veteran Joel Luphahla to stifle free flow for Highlanders in the middle. Dylan Chivandire, Mustafa Ponyera and Simbarashe Gorogodyo are all capable of causing all sorts of problems for the Highlanders defence.
In other fixtures lined up this afternoon, Triangle are up against Border Strikers, Caps United meet Harare City, struggling former champions Dynamos are away to Mutare City while Hwange welcome newly promoted Ngezi Platinum.
Fixtures
Today: Triangle v Border Strikers (Gibbo Stadium), Tsholotsho v Highlanders (Barbourfields Stadium), Caps United v Harare City (National Sports Stadium), Mutare City Rovers v Dynamos (Sakubva Stadium), Hwange v Ngezi Platinum Stars (Colliery Stadium)
