Benjani’s Blackrock selection poser

FOR Highlanders coach Benjani Mwaruwari, this afternoon’s Munhumutapa Challenge Cup clash against Blackrock at Colliery Stadium presents an intriguing selection puzzle.

Does he use the occasion to give some of his new arrivals and fringe players valuable minutes, or does he resist the temptation to experiment and unleash his strongest possible XI in pursuit of a place in the next round?

That is the question hanging over Bosso as they prepare for their first appearance in a competition that could yet provide some much-needed joy in a season where their league ambitions appear to have faded.

On paper, Highlanders are overwhelming favourites against Southern Region Division One side Blackrock.

They have the bigger name, the deeper squad, Premier Soccer League experience and players accustomed to playing in high-pressure matches.

But cup football has a habit of making such calculations meaningless.

Blackrock will arrive with the freedom of a side that has very little to lose and everything to gain, while Highlanders carry the expectation that comes with being one of the country’s biggest football clubs.

For Mwaruwari, however, the match offers something else.

It is a chance to see whether the additions made during the just-ended transfer window can immediately make an impact.

Highlanders moved quickly to strengthen their squad, bringing back striker Brighton Makopa, signing highly-rated midfielder Liam Mabidi from Southern Region Division One side Dulibadzimu United and securing Emmanuel Saidi on loan from Scottland FC until the end of the campaign.

Defender Ephany Gwavava has also joined the club, while the arrival of Benjani Mwaruwari Junior has generated its own excitement among the Highlanders faithful.

The younger Mwaruwari, naturally, comes with an added storyline.

Bosso supporters will be eager to see whether the youngster has inherited some of his father’s famous finishing instinct and can begin writing his own story in the black and white colours.

This afternoon could therefore be an ideal stage for some of the newcomers.

But therein lies the dilemma.

The Munhumutapa Challenge Cup is not a friendly tournament designed for experimentation.

It is a straight knockout competition, meaning there is no second leg and no opportunity to correct a mistake in the return fixture.

Lose, and Highlanders are out.

That reality could persuade Mwaruwari to put development and experimentation to one side and trust the players who have carried the team through the campaign.

Captain Darlington Munkuli, Mongameli Tshuma, Kudakwashe Mahachi, Andrew Mbeba, Rainsome Pavari and goalkeeper Aaron Ngwenya are among the influential figures who can be expected to provide the experience required for a match in which concentration will be critical.

The temptation, though, will be to see what the new faces can offer.

Makopa’s return is particularly interesting.

The striker came through Highlanders’ developmental structures before leaving to establish himself in the Premier Soccer League, later turning out for Hwange and Chicken Inn.

His return gives Mwaruwari another experienced attacking option, but today could also provide the coach with an early opportunity to assess how he fits into his plans.

Mabidi offers a different proposition.

The young midfielder arrives from Dulibadzimu United after previously spending time in the development structures of South African outfit TS Galaxy.

His arrival was intended to increase competition in midfield, and a competitive cup match could offer a far better examination of his readiness than training sessions.

Then there is Saidi, whose loan move from Scottland gives the technical team another option during the second half of the season.

The question is whether Mwaruwari sees today’s fixture as the right environment to throw some of these players into the deep end.

There is certainly an argument for it.

With Highlanders’ league challenge no longer carrying the same promise it did at the start of the campaign, the Munhumutapa Cup represents a fresh opportunity.

A deep run could give the season a different complexion.

But that opportunity also makes the competition too important to take lightly.

Blackrock will certainly not be concerned about Highlanders’ selection dilemma.

They will be chasing what would be one of the biggest upsets of the tournament.

Coach Tinashe Doriro has already made it clear that his players have embraced the occasion, and for a club from the

lower division, sharing the pitch with Highlanders is a moment to savour.