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Both clubs are under Zambian expatriates and it will be the first time that Highlanders’ Kelvin Kaindu faces his countryman Tennant Chilumba since joining Bosso at the beginning of the year.
The Sunday game will be more of a master versus student affair as Chilumba says he instructed Kaindu in one of the coaching clinics in Zambia at the former midfielder’s infancy in coaching.
Chilumba is the reigning Castle Lager Premier Soccer League Coach of the Season and will lead Chipangano when they face red-hot Highlanders who play an exciting attacking brand of football which Kaindu has introduced.
Highlanders have gone for six games without losing, convincingly winning five of those matches and drawing the other.
On the other hand Hwange are on position seven on the log with 11 points from seven outings.
Both coaches were diplomatic about the Sunday game, expressing respect for each other.
“Our preparations are on track and we are just getting the team psyched up. We respect Hwange, they have been playing well and we look forward to a good game,” said Kaindu.
Hwange should be worried about Highlanders’ form, especially at Barbourfields Stadium where they have managed to score 12 goals in three matches. This means that their average score per match at Emagumeni is four.
In the games that they have played at Barbourfields, Highlanders clobbered Blue Rangers 4-1, went on to beat Hardbody 5-3 and last weekend they dismissed Monomotapa 3-0.
Despite this intimidating record, Chilumba remained confident that they would get a positive result on Sunday but conceded that Highlanders were tricky opponents.
“We don’t have injuries and the way the players are training, we are confident of a positive result. Highlanders are a good team and Kelvin Kaindu has brought lots of positive changes to the team not to say Cooper (Mkhuphali Masuku) was not a good coach.
“Kaindu is a go-getter. We played together in Zambia and I was his instructor in one of the coaching clinics back home. He likes to get results and is more like my young boy. I think it will be a good game,” Chilumba said.
The coalminers have not been good on the road only managing to pick a point out of a possible nine.
In their last away match they were beaten 4-2 by Dynamos after playing without coaches Nation Dube and Mebelo Njekwa who were assaulted by Dynamos’ bouncers before kick off, leaving fitness trainer Kenny Nyape to take charge of the team.
Hwange’s other away loss was in Gweru against Hardbody who beat them 2-0.
Chipangano only picked a point when they held Blue Rangers to a two-all draw in the capital.
It might be Hwange’s 2-1 home victory against Black Mambas that might have given hope to Chilumba that they would beat Bosso.
However, Chipangano should be wary of Highlanders who do not have a target man as any player in their team can score.
Graham Ncube who has adjusted well to playing as a lone striker, Milton “Milito’ Ncube and Simon Munawa have each scored four goals with Masimba Mambare having two on his account while Heritein Masuku, Ozias Zibande, Peter “Rio” Moyo and Beavan Chikaka have scored one each.
Kaindu is likely to retain the team that beat Monomotapa with captain Innocent Mapuranga, Eric Mudzingwa, Atlast Musasa and Bruce Kangwa providing cover for goalkeeper Ariel Sibanda.
Moyo, Munawa, Masuku and Milton will join impressive Mthulisi Maphosa in midfield with Graham as the lone striker.
On the other hand Hwange will pin their hopes on veteran goalkeeper Timothy Sibanda who will be hoping to avoid picking the ball a number of times from the nets, David Boriwondo, Gerald Ndlovu, Gilbert Zulu, Francisco Zvikumbawire, Ocean Mpofu and Farai Vimisai.
Meanwhile, Hardbody will be hoping to register their third win of the season at Ascot Stadium against Harare City and move away from the relegation zone.
Fixtures
Week 8
Saturday: Black Mambas v Shabanie Mine (Morris Depot), FC Platinum v Gunners (Mandava), Monomotapa v Quelaton (Rufaro), Blue Rangers v Caps United (Gwanzura).
Sunday: Dynamos v Chicken Inn (Rufaro), Hardbody v Harare City (Gweru), Buffaloes v Motor Action (Sakubva), Highlanders v Hwange (Barbourfields).
Week 9
Wednesday 23 May: Quelaton v Blue Rangers (Luveve), Hwange v Monomotapa (Colliery), Motor Action v Dynamos (Rufaro), Shabanie Mine v Highlanders (Maglas)
Thursday 24 May: Caps United v FC Platinum (National Sports Stadium), Harare City v Buffaloes (Rufaro), Chicken Inn v Black Mambas (Luveve) Gunners v Hardbody (Lafarge).
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