Bosso, Caps to clash in friendly

Lovemore Dube Sports Editor
STUNG by almost two months of inactivity, two of the country’s big three teams, Caps United and Highlanders will slug it out in the city on Sunday.
National team activity has forced the Castle Lager Premier Soccer League programme to give way. This has seen clubs engage in little action over the past two months something that could have hit the players and clubs hard on their finances.

Camping and winning bonuses go a long way in helping footballers sustain themselves and their families.

Highlanders chairman Peter Dube confirmed yesterday that his club would play host to Caps United in a friendly match. He said this would see the team shape up for a gruelling 11-match programme in which they are eager to wage a serious challenge for the championship.

“We have not been active during these breaks. This could affect our players and team. We hope the team will benefit from the match and we are looking forward to our fans coming to watch the boys.

In arranging the match we have also taken into consideration that our fans have been starved of football for a long time. After so long a break they are eager to see the boys,” said Dube.

Alex Muyaka, the patron of the Caps United supporters in Bulawayo, said they were happy to be playing Highlanders. He said both teams have enjoyed a good sporting relationship from the 1980s and the match would help them renew their friendship and help their teams keep in shape.

“The friendly match will help our teams stay fit. There is still the championship to fight for and hence the clubs cannot afford to sit back and relax. So the match comes at the right time when fans’ appetite for soccer is high especially the local game.

“We are hopeful that fans will come in their numbers and see the two teams field their best players,” said Muyaka.
The Highlanders fans expect to watch their new arrivals Gabriel Nyoni, Master Masitara and Tinashe Chipunza.

Highlanders will be without the national team stars Bruce Kangwa a late addition to solve the impotency on the left flank, Warriors captain Masimba Mambare, Peter Rio Moyo, Milton Ncube and Munyaradzi Diya who are likely to be on national duty in Zambia for a Chan tie.

Caps should be strong despite the absence of goalkeeper Tafadzwa Dube, striker Dominic Chungwa and star utility player Hardlife Zvirekwi who will be away with the Warriors.

The matches between the two teams have always been battles for the pride of their respective cities.
The coaches are expected to field their best available players and give fans value for money.

Dube said they had opted for Sunday so that they are not a counter attraction to the closing ceremony of the Zimbabwe Youth Games.

Meanwhile, in another development the president of the Friends of the Warriors Lynne Green said Zifa has organised buses for fans to accompany the Warriors to Ndola for the Chan qualifier.

“We have through Zifa and Government been assured of about eight buses. We want people to register with the provincial supporters bodies so that we travel as a large contingent to cheer the boys.

“I am confident that many fans will travel to support the boys.
They need our morale support and in line with the trend all over the world, we are appealing to each member to pay $13 membership fees,” said Green.