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Ricky Zililo Sports Reporter
BULAWAYO soccer giants Highlanders who have seemingly engaged the right gear in the penultimate stages of the championship battle are expected to take their splendid Mbada Diamonds Cup quarter-final performance against Buffaloes to Barbourfields Stadium this afternoon when they play host to Tripple B.
Highlanders have hit the right note and are in contention for league and cup double after making it into the last four of the Mbada Diamonds Cup and are also perfectly placed in the championship race.
There was a time that Bosso’s championship hopes looked to have been dented as they were losing points willy-nilly, only managing eight points out of a possible 18 in their first six games of the second half of the season.
The football gods seem to have smiled on Bosso because along the way, log leaders Dynamos and championship hopefuls Harare City who are third on the log and tied on 41 points with Highlanders also dropped points.
Highlanders, second on the table, managed to close in on the log leaders and reduced the gap to a point after beating FC Platinum 2-1 in their last league match played at their fortress Barbourfields Stadium.
In reducing the gap, Bosso had to thank the coalminers Hwange who handed Dynamos a shock 2-4 loss at the Colliery Stadium a fortnight ago and today, Highlanders know how important the three points against Tripple B would be to keep them in the championship race.
On Sunday, Highlanders displayed some magnificent football that left most football enthusiasts convinced that should they maintain their form, they can easily win the league title and the Mbada Diamonds Cup.
Kelvin Kaindu, the Highlanders coach, showed tactical ingenuity when his second half substitutions changed the complexion of the game and were all involved in all Bosso’s three goals against Buffaloes.
First to make an impact was Mthulisi Maphosa who came from the bench for Simon Munawa and scored with his second touch before Milton Ncube who had come on for Bhekimpilo Ncube scored with his first feel of the ball.
Kaindu is happy with his players’ performance and has challenged his squad to work harder.
“I am happy with the team’s performance and I hope that we are going to transfer our Mbada Diamonds Cup tournament performance to the league. We just have to continue with our hard work and to win the league or the cup it’s all up to God,” said Kaindu.
Other players that have proven to be key in Highlanders’ campaign include evergreen Bruce Kangwa, speed merchant Gabriel Nyoni whose pace has proved to be difficult to handle for most defenders and goalkeeper Munyaradzi Diya who has on numerous occasions made stunning saves to keep the Bulawayo giants on course for a title.
Eric Mudzingwa who had been reduced to a fringe player has also done well whenever his services are required while aging captain Innocent Mapuranga has managed to command his team very well and lead from the back.
However, today Bosso face a Tripple B outfit that almost caused a scare for the Bulawayo giants in the first leg losing 2-3 to Highlanders at Mandava Stadium.
The Beitbridge side are fighting for survival and are expected to fight throughout the game.
Tripple B will pin their hopes on striker Aleck Marime who attracted Bosso attention during the mid-season transfer-window. Marime has scored nine league goals and is in contention for the Golden Boot.
They also have Timire Mamvura, Maxwell Mavhuto, Dion Homela, Oscar Chove and Philip Makanje to lead their attack.
Tripple B’s spokesman Gibson Makhanda said they are coming to Bulawayo for a positive result.
“Highlanders have been playing well and we respect them but we are coming to Bulawayo to get a positive result. We might be down there on the log but we are going to fight until the last whistle of the season,” said Makhanda.
While Highlanders will be doing battle with relegation threatened Tripple B in Bulawayo, Bosso’s faithfuls will be hoping that FC Platinum beat leaders Dynamos at Mandava Stadium this afternoon.
FC Platinum are fourth on the log with 39 points and a victory for them would see them take their tally to 42 points.
The ambitious Zvishavane side have never won a match against Dynamos at Mandava since being promoted into the league and they will be hoping to break that jinx.
FC Platinum’s coach Lloyd Mutasa who lost his job to Callisto Pasuwa in 2011 will be facing his successor for the first time.
Mutasa desires to win silverware with FC Platinum and the only thing left on offer in the domestic league is the Castle Lager Premiership title.
He said they are ready for the defending champions.
“We respect all the teams that we play with but I and my team want to win trophies with FC Platinum and if we are to do that we have to win our matches. We have prepared for the Dynamos game just like any other encounter and we hope to get a positive result.
“We have been playing well but Lady Luck has been eluding us,” Mutasa said.
He has experienced goalkeepers in Francis Tizayi, Petros Mhari and Tolbert Shumba at his disposal with former national team defender Daniel Vheremu marshalling the defence which might have the Moyo twins Elvis and Kevin and Raphael Mudhuviwa.
There are also the likes of Thabani Kamusoko, Donald Ngoma, Charles Sibanda and Obey Chirwa who on a good day can lead their side to victory.
Dynamos’ coach Pasuwa admitted feeling the heat and hoped for a positive result at FC Platinum.
“Obviously being the defending champions and the level of competition now I must say there is some pressure which we have to contain. We are disappointed that we have failed to defend the Mbada Diamonds Cup but we can make up for that by trying to make sure that we win our league games and stay in control of the championship race. We just have to soldier on,” said Pasuwa.
Fixtures
Today: Harare City v Black Mambas (Rufaro); Motor Action v How Mine (Motor Action Sports Club); Caps United v Chicken Inn (National Sports Stadium); Hwange v Shabanie Mine (Colliery); FC Platinum v Dynamos (Mandava); Black Rhinos v Buffaloes (Rimuka); Highlanders v Tripple B (Barbourfields)
Londile Moyo
Bongani Ndlovu