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Sports Reporters
THE battle lines which have been drawn the whole week will culminate into full battle today when highflying Highlanders clash with surprise package ZPC Kariba in a Castle Lager top of the table clash at Gwanzura Stadium in Harare this afternoon.
The match is predicted to be a humdinger of a match if the two teams’ recent form is anything to go by.
ZPC Kariba has had a fairytale start in their maiden season in topflight soccer, but they have what some have termed the “Caps connection”.
The club has within their ranks former Caps coach, Saul Chaminuka, who recruited several players to the club for their PSL campaign.
Players such as Tawanda Nyamwande, Tawanda Munyanduri and David Rediyoni were all once in Caps’ books.
ZPC Kariba has relied on players who have once had a dance in the PSL including those who were once at Caps along with Limited Chikafa, Pride Tafirenyika, Norman Togara, Caleb Masocha and Pardon Chinungwa among others.
Highlanders will be led by assistant coach, Mark Mathe who will be eager to ensure the boys extend their lead at the top of the PSL standings although the two teams are at par on points, Bosso is atop due to a superior goal difference.
Bosso, the league’s top scoring team with 13 goals, clash with the new boys who boast of the Premiership’s meanest defence so far, having conceded only two.
The Bulawayo side will be hoping to continue with their near flawless performance that saw them demolish Caps United 4-0 at Barbourfields last Sunday.
ZPC Kariba coach Chaminuka will be attempting a rare achievement of avoiding defeat against “The Big Three” of Dynamos, Caps United and Bosso.
Chaminuka has already claimed the scalp of Dynamos while a gutsy 1-1 draw against Caps United in their maiden Premiership match was the beginning of their fairytale.
Both teams are tied on 12 points, unbeaten after six rounds of action but Bosso enjoy a superior goal difference.
Munyaradzi Diya, dropped from the squad that thumped Caps United last Sunday, is set to reclaim his position with Kuda Mahachi and Ozias Zibande leading the attack.
Another interesting fact is both teams are yet to taste defeat but if today’s game produces a winner; one would have registered a loss.
The match will be broadcast live on Supersport 9 at 3pm.
Elsewhere, after dousing the fire that threatened to burn their house, Dynamos seek to bounce back to winning ways when they date plucky Shabanie Mine at Maglas.
Two consecutive defeats to Chapungu and Buffaloes, a gradual slide on the log standings and an irritating style of play have left temperatures soaring at the defending champions.
DeMbare convened a crisis meeting, which saw under fire coach Kallisto Pasuwa living to see another day, in midweek.
However, a third straight defeat will do further damage to the coach’s standing.
DeMbare’s blunt strike force has not helped Pasuwa’s cause either as the champions are already eight goals behind log leaders Highlanders, in a league race that has been decided on goal difference over the past three seasons.
Maglas is not the best place to visit for Dynamos at the moment, as they have often struggled there.
DeMbare, however, have a tendency of fighting their way back to glory especially when their opponents read too much into their in-house wrangles.
In Hwange, Bantu Rovers will be seeking their first away victory when they take on high flying Hwange at the Colliery.
Hwange who are certainly the favourites to win the tie might be buoyed by the fact that they have not lost a game in their backyard this season and will surely be expecting to maintain that record.
The hosts, who have already announced their ambitions of landing the coveted premiership crown, began this season’s campaign on a high note with a 4-1 drubbing of Buffaloes at the Colliery. And they have enough arsenal to gun down Bantu Rovers in the form of national team defender Eric Chipeta, skipper Gerald Ndlovu, Andrew Chuma and Farayi Vimisayi.
Fixtures:
ZPC Kariba v Highlanders (Gwanzura), Shabanie Mine v Dynamos (Maglas), Buffaloes v FC Platinum (Sakubva), Hwange FC v Bantu Rovers (Colliery).
Online Reporter