adminSikhumbuzo Moyo Senior Sports Reporter
SOCCER fans have predicted a closely fought encounter when giants of local football Highlanders and Dynamos clash in a Castle Lager Premier Soccer League match before an expected packed Barbourfields Stadium tomorrow. The match will literally bring the City of Bulawayo and the entire nation even beyond the borders to a virtual standstill as the top two sides in local football fight it out in what might turn out to be the title decider, especially if the home team, Highlanders romp to victory.
What is interesting is that the majority of the two teams’ sets of fans are sceptical about the match with Highlanders supporters choosing to say it’s a tricky encounter judging from past performances of their team while their Dynamos counterparts are scared by the recent good show by Highlanders as well as their team’s rather unpredictable performance.
Some die-hard Bosso fans however, feel this time Dynamos has no chance and their team will steamroll past them with ease.
Carol Ndlovu, a city businesswoman involved in sportswear and a staunch Highlanders supporter said come rain on sunshine, this time DeMbare’s dominance over Bosso will be brought to an abrupt end.
“I would not want to predict the scoreline but what is certain is that gone are those days when Dynamos would come here and pretend as if they are at Rufaro Stadium. Those honeymoon days are over and we even offer to escort them soon after the match siyebatshiya kutollgate to make sure that they left the city safely,” said Ndlovu.
She encouraged the Highlanders players to make sure they score as many goals as possible to send a clear message to the other remaining four teams who are yet to play Highlanders.
“We want to instill fear in their bone marrow,” she said.
A Dynamos supporter, Pinias Mazorodze predicted an exciting match which however, will not produce a winner at the end of the day.
“I believe both teams are playing well hence their positions on the log and I think it’s going to be 1-1, that will be a fair result,” said Mazorodze a taxi driver in the city.
He appealed to both sets of fans to shun violence and accept the result.
“I can’t wait to see the boys doing their thing on Sunday (tomorrow) and I think our captain Tawanda Muparati will be the shining beacon in the match,” said Mazorodze.
Another taxi driver who is a Highlanders supporter, Gift Ndlovu said there was no way that his team would lose to Dynamos this time around not even with history favouring the visitors.
“History will not be an issue this time my brother, we will trample over them and the match will end 2-1 in favour of Ezikamagebhula through goals from Njabulo Ncube and Bhekimpilo Ncube,” said Ndlovu, a Pumula North resident.
Thamsanqa Khumalo a visual artist in the city and a Bosso fanatic said his team will prevail 3-0.
“I don’t care who will score but that will be the final score, in favour of Bosso,” he said.
Entumbane resident and a Caps United supporter but a Dynamos sympathiser David Mupatsi said their Harare neighbours would prevail 2-1.
“It’s going to be a good game though but I still don’t see Highlanders beating Dynamos and we also have history in our favour,” said Mupatsi.
An ice cream vendor, Vusa Nyathi, from Pumula East said both teams are confident of a victory but expressed concern over the way Highlanders always perform against Dynamos at Barbourfields Stadium.
“DeMbare are now bragging that BF is their second home ground. I support Highlanders but I think these people will beat us 2-1 or even 3-1,” said Nyathi.
South Africa-based Highlanders supporter Sikhumbuzo Banda said it will be a tough match but Bosso would prevail 2-1 while Vusani Chirwa predicted a 5-0 drubbing of the Harare giants.
Dynamos are yet to lose to their Bulawayo rivals since their 0-2 defeat in 2006, the year Tshilamoya went on to lift the league title.
In the last two encounters at Barbourfields Stadium, the two giants have managed 0-0 and 1-1 draws only.
Online Reporter