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A derby? It’s Arenal facing Highlanders!
Highlanders super fan, Themba “Mjocks” Siziba may be stating a fact when talk turns to this Sunday’s Castle Premier Soccer
League meeting featuring Bulawayo giants, Highlanders and Arenel.
The historical and sporting gap between the two is bridged by Arenel’s hard-nosed start to their debut Premiership season.
After Arenel’s unbeaten run towards the top tier league turned them into headline news after a string of results that have seen them occupy 15th position with eight points on the log table, but with only two losses, the Sweet Boys are Highlanders’ new-found city rivals in the top tier football.
This will be most apparent on Sunday in these two clubs’ first-ever derby encounter at Barbourfields Stadium. Statistically, Arenel have been very competitive. The league new boys have only conceded seven goals in their first eight matches in the Premiership, the same number of conceded goals as Highlanders. As Arenel get ready to face Bosso, the pain of a “home” defeat to their ‘big brother’ will be something they will want to avoid.
“I’ve never watched Arenel play in a derby this big. We know Bosso are the big brothers in Bulawayo but our start to the season has not been that bad. I think we are good enough to pull off a shocker or at least avoid defeat. My memory still retains enough of the pleasure of winning promotion without losing a single match in Division One and in the premier league we have only lost two matches which means the team has the mentality to do enough to at least avoid defeat,” said Andy Sibanda, an Arenel fan.
Since arriving on the premiership stage for their first season, Arenel have kicked on and seem to be thriving at the first ask, while Bosso are their usual selves, flattering to deceive and could toil in their quest to cement their hold at the top of the table.
Highlanders sit at the top of the table with 18 points from five wins, three draws, and one loss. However, it is their new-found hunger for goals that could scamper the Sweet Boys’ hopes of victory.
Bosso have scored 15 goals thus far with April player of the month Lynoth Chikuhwa leading the charge.
On the black-and-white side of the fence, the possible result after 90 minutes is being viewed slightly different.
“They feel they have done well in the league so far and they think they can match us,” said Bosso fan Siziba.
“But on Sunday, let’s be honest, it’s all about hitting the back of the net. I think we’ve been a little special so far this season because of the coach and what he has done to players like Sonji (Chikuhwa). When you’ve been struggling for goals and all the things we had to put up with under the ultra-defensive Brito – we had forgotten how it feels to celebrate goal after goal. And now with Kelvin Kaindu at the helm, a new found hunger for scoring has made us very happy. It would be nice to get one over them (Arenel),” Siziba told B Metro Sport.
Towards the end of last season, Highlanders struggled for a long time to launch a realistic title challenge having flirted with a title win for the first six months of the campaign.
Meanwhile, Arenel coach Farai Tawachera is a relieved man following first-choice goalkeeper Aaron Ngwenya’s return to full fitness ahead of the derby clash. Ngwenya missed Arenel’s last match which they lost 3-0 against Greenfuel due to illness.
Tawachera said they have been monitoring Ngwenya’s situation and they are confident he will be 100 percent fit come Sunday. In seven league games this season, Ngwenya has four clean sheets and has conceded seven goals.
“It was rather unfortunate that we had traveled with him but he wasn’t feeling well on our arrival and we were forced to drop him. However, we have been monitoring him and he seems to have recovered well. He should be available for selection this Sunday,” said Tawachera.
The coach said they were forced to start this week’s training programme on Wednesday as they tried to deal with fatigue within their ranks
“The team started training on Wednesday. This follows the many hours we were on the road. The boys needed a bit of rest but everyone is back and looking forward to facing Highlanders. We have gone on a bad patch but we have to continue working hard to recover from the bad results,” said Tawachera.
He said he has been impressed with how Bosso are playing this season.
“Highlanders are playing good football and scoring goals as well. We have to be at our best to beat them. This being a derby it’s always the players who decide which way the game goes because they know each other well and spend time together outside the pitch. It’s going to be exciting,” said Tawachera.
Highlanders were last week also forced to bench first-choice goalkeeper Ariel Sibanda, and fielded second-choice Raphael Pitisi. It remains to be seen if Pitisi will manage to cling to the number one slot, after Sibanda was criticised for a poor show in previous games.
PSL weekend fixtures
Saturday: Bikita Minerals v TelOne (Sakubva), Ngezi Platinum v Bulawayo Chiefs (Baobab), Chicken Inn v Dynamos (Barbourfields), Herentals v Yadah (Rufaro), FC Platinum v Green fuel (Mandava), ZPC Kariba v Manica Diamonds (Nyanhunga).
Sunday: Chegutu Pirates v Simba Bhora (Baobab), Caps United v Hwange (Rufaro),Arenel Movers v Highlanders (Barbourfields).
Online Reporter