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Lovemore Dube and Ricky Zililo Sports Reporters
HIGHLANDERS’ coach Kelvin Kaindu is a relieved man ahead of the epic clash against defending champions Dynamos at Barbourfields Stadium tomorrow after three key players who had suffered knocks recovered to take part in full training yesterday. There were fears that skipper and defensive pillar Innocent Mapuranga, midfield maestro Mthulisi Maphosa and speed merchant Gabriel Nyoni would not be available for selection due to injuries.
A Chronicle Sport crew had a brief glimpse of Highlanders’ closed training session at Bulawayo’s ceremonial home of soccer Emagumeni and morale looked high with the players giving their best.
It is the way that the players have been conducting themselves during the week that makes Kaindu believe they are ready to face the defending champions and his preparations for the game were yesterday boosted by the availability of the three players.
“It’s all systems go for us and everybody is looking forward to the game. Morale has been very high and I am pleased with the way the players have been committing themselves during our sessions.
“Everyone wants to be in the team and my hopes are that they (players) can carry the same attitude to the game on Sunday. I am really enjoying the level of commitment and the desire to be in the final squad that these players are giving and unfortunately as coaches we cannot take everyone to the game but I am confident that whoever comes in will do a great job.
“We thank God that the guys that had knocks looked much better during our session and it’s healthy for us to know that they are available for selection and we will see who to use on Sunday,” said Kaindu.
The only player who has been ruled out for the match dubbed “The Battle of the Titans” is Bruce Tshuma who is on suspension after accumulating three yellow cards. Despite the development, Tshuma trained with the rest of the squad.
Of late, it has been difficult to predict Highlanders’ starting line-up with Kaindu preferring to rotate his players.
Some of the players that will probably be in Kaindu’s final 18 include eccentric goalkeeper Munyaradzi Diya, Mapuranga, versatile Eric Mudzingwa, Dumisani Ndlovu, Bosso’s evergreen Bruce Kangwa, Njabulo Ncube who seems to have rediscovered his scoring touch, Maphosa and Milton Ncube.
The Bulawayo giants will be out to break their jinx over Dynamos whom they last beat in a league match in 2006. Beside the jinx, Bosso will also be hoping to collect maximum points so that they consolidate their lead at the top of the Premiership standings.
Highlanders could go into tomorrow’s game second on the table in the event that third placed Harare City who are tied on 45 points with Dynamos beat army side Buffaloes this afternoon in the capital.
Unconfirmed reports last night were that Dynamos are already in Bulawayo with some people who called the Chronicle newsroom saying they saw DeMbare players shopping at a leading retail outlet in the city centre.
Repeated efforts to get confirmation from Dynamos’ camp were fruitless as the Harare giants are keeping a tight lid on their preparations.
Highlanders should be cautious of DeMbare as they also have good players in the form of inspirational captain Murape Murape, Tawanda Muparati, Ocean Mushure and defensive rock Patson Jaure.
Fans that will go early for “The Battle of the Titans” will be able to watch upcoming stars from both sides as Highlanders’ Under-19 squad will clash with their Dynamos counterparts in the main curtain raiser that will kickoff at 11:30am.
In an exciting weekend of football, another thriller looks on the cards in Zvishavane when FC Platinum host to Shabanie Mine in the mining town derby.
The form book favours Lloyd Mutasa’s men who have in recent weeks emerged strong championship favourites. They have good financial backing, two coaches in Mutasa and Masimba Dinyero who played club football at the highest level and conquered and would love to cement their coaching credentials with a win this afternoon at Mandava Stadium.
Apart from good sponsorship, FC Platinum have invested well in players. They have blended youth and experience to come up with one of the most exciting projects in the land with Ali Sadiki, tricky Charles Sibanda, the Moyo twins Elvis and Kevin, Daniel Vheremu and Thabani Kamusoko key players who can match any in the land.
But against Shabanie Mine, they come up against a team whose coach is a good schemer. One of gaffer Luke Masomere’s great attributes is his ability to read the game, psyche up average players and deliver a killer punch.
His players, who have not shown the form that won them the BancABC Sup8r Cup, have to realise from this afternoon on that the honeymoon is over and that the fight to survive relegation has begun in earnest.
It starts with winning the self-motivating derby against a team any coach would pride himself in coaching because of the player and financial resources at their disposal.
Pervington Zimunya, Victor Twaliki, Caleb Masocha and Smart Muchabaiwa are Shabanie players who have in the past proven their big match temperament and produced scintillating results against all odds.
A win for the asbestos miners, 1-0 winners in the first half of the season, will ease their relegation worries while for FC Platinum, a win would see them staying within the chasing pack for the Castle Lager title.
Meanwhile, newly appointed Chicken Inn FC coach Joey “Mafero” Antipas will be in charge of his first game against Monomotapa in Harare tomorrow.
Antipas believes that the key towards finishing the season on a high lies in his players’ mental strength.
Antipas took over the reins on Tuesday, a day after Mandla “Lulu” Mpofu resigned from the Gamecocks’ hot seat.
The former Motor Action gaffer is assisted by Sikhumbuzo Banda and Julius Siza Ndlovu.
In an interview yesterday, Antipas said they are ready for the trip to Harare.
“I am still trying to cope but our training programmes have so far gone well. What I noticed is that this is a good squad, a mixture of hardworking and talented players. At this stage what I am trying to do is to psyche up the guys seeing that they have gone for three consecutive defeats.
“The team is there and what we need going for the game against Monomotapa is the right attitude, belief in ourselves and then we can get a positive result. Monomotapa are a dangerous team and playing a club like them who are fighting relegation requires us to be mentally stable,” Antipas said.
Chicken Inn are sixth on the log with 36 points, 11 behind log leaders Highlanders.
The ambitious Bulawayo club has assembled a strong squad that has been unlucky in their last three matches going down by identical 1-2 scorelines twice against Caps United in the Mbada Diamonds Cup quarter-finals and the league. They also lost by a similar margin to Hwange at home last Saturday.
Fixtures
Today: FC Platinum v Shabanie Mine (Mandava, SS9), Motor Action v Black Rhinos (Motor Action), CAPS United v How Mine (National Sports Stadium), Harare City v Buffaloes (Rufaro), Tripple B v Triangle (Dulibadzimu)
Tomorrow: Hwange v Black Mambas (Colliery), Highlanders v Dynamos (Barbourfields, SS9), Monomotapa v Chicken Inn (Gwanzura)
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