Bosso eye three points at Barbourfields

HIGHLANDERS coach Benjani Mwaruwari wants the best of his charges this afternoon as they face MWOS in a midweek Castle Lager tie at Barbourfields Stadium.

The 2006 league champions have started with two consecutive draws in their 2026 campaign and hope to exorcise the ghost that has haunted them in the last 20 years.

It’s been two decades since Bosso last won the title and the pressure has been as hot as it was in 2007 when they went in defence of it.

Successive coaches have failed to deliver and Mwaruwari, a former Bosso junior finds himself in a position to make happy a fan base that has stayed solidly behind the under achieving lot.

In an interview, ahead of this afternoon’s clash in which the home fans are expected to come in their thousands, Mwaruwari said he is hopeful that they will pick up maximum points to keep up the early season pressure on opponents.

Highlanders started the campaign with a 1-1 draw against Bulawayo Chiefs in a derby that could have gone either way.

At Rufaro Stadium, three days ago, Highlanders let slip two leads to allow Dynamos to snatch a draw. Two beautifully taken goals by Never Rauzhi and Mongameli Tshuma had given the travellers a glimmer of hope of making it a double over the once invincible Seven Million Club, which has over the past two decades been eclipsed at the turnstiles by Highlanders whose fans pack stadia home and away.

“We will try our best to get the three points,” said Mwaruwari.

He said morale in the camp is high and the players are raring to go.

“They look sharp and they are raring to go,” he said.

The coach disclosed that Lucky Mutumbi, who was pulled off for Lawrence Mhlanga in the early stages of the biggest match of the first half of the championship on Sunday, is out of the squad as is striker, Reason Sibanda.

Bosso await the work permit for Isaac Ngoma, a Zambian import who many believe could be the solution in attack.

Benjamin Adeguon will carry the expectations of the home crowd, which is praying that Rauzhi has discovered his scoring touch, which forced Highlanders to sign him in mid-season of 2024. He had at that stage scored seven goals for Bulawayo Chiefs and there was a lot of hope that he would bang them in for Amahlolanyama.

MWOS, who impressed in their first season after buying a franchise have added Delroy Chuma and Marceline Milo to their roster. They have looked a balanced team in all departments and are buoyed by a good technical department, which boasts of Lloyd Mutasa the head coach, experienced goalkeepers trainer Tembo Chuma and technical director Wilson Mutekede, who held the same post at Zifa.

Should the Norton based side bring its “A Game” to Barbourfields Stadium this afternoon, fans can expect an exciting duel.