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In the reverse fixture last year which was Rahman Gumbo’s first match in charge, FC Platinum beat Highlanders 2-0 with Charles Sibanda running rings around the Highlanders defence while stand-in goalkeeper Lovemore Makwavarara had a nightmarish afternoon.
That match was also played during the week. The Bulawayo giants later avenged their first leg loss at Barbourfields Stadium by winning through a single goal.
“We are used to playing on Sundays but nevertheless we are fully prepared for the match. FC Platinum are a complete outfit and we have so much respect for them.
“We watched them playing against Chicken Inn on Saturday and they seem to have a strong squad but so do we,” said Kaindu who has led Tshilamoya to two wins and a draw, with 10 goals in the league race.
They will welcome back the injured trio of Heritein Masuku, Bhekimpilo Ncube and young Honest Moyo who missed the 1-1 draw to Buffaloes.
The match, which is likely to attract a bumper crowd as it falls on a holiday, could be an explosive encounter as FC Platinum would want to end their three-game winless streak that has seen them picking up just three points out of a possible nine.
The cash-rich Zvishavane side drew 2-2 against Hwange and Shabanie Mine before the 1-1 draw against Chicken Inn at Luveve Stadium on Saturday.
Pressure seems to be mounting in their camp according to their official social networking account. In one of their recent posts after the 1-1 draw against Chicken Inn, the club asked for public opinion on what could be wrong as they looked forward to today’s match.
“We have drawn three of our last four games and won once. What do you think has contributed to our slow start to the season and are we going to win on Tuesday at home to unbeaten Bosso?” read the post.
Most of the responses from their followers seemed to lay the blame squarely on what they called biased team selection by the technical team led by Gumbo.
Those that will throng Mandava Stadium are likely to witness some exciting football in midfield as both teams have good players.
Mthulisi Maphosa is likely to play a starring role as anchorman, taking care of any forays from the FC Platinum engine-room of Joel Ngodzo, Allan Gahadzikwa, Ali Sadiki and Thabani Kamusoko.
Highlanders will probably flood that area with Graham Ncube who might also drop deep to allow Beavan Chikaka to operate as a lone striker.
Charles Sibanda is likely to be given a free role that will see him having occasional breaks upfront.
While young Arshford Katsande might have impressed Kaindu in the Buffaloes match, it is the stabilising factor and the confidence boosting presence of regular shotstopper Ariel Sibanda that will make him the wildcard
Meanwhile, Caps United co-director Farai Jere says their technical duo of Sean Connor and Lloyd Chitembwe should be given time and the poor start to the season was not worrying them as they know that positive results will soon start coming.
Makepekepe fell 2-0 to Gunners over the weekend and have not won a single match in four games save for the free points awarded to them due to the failure by Motor Action to fulfill their match against them.
Speaking from South Africa yesterday, Jere said the technical bench had the total support of the executive and very soon, their fans would start realising the positives.
“Patience is very necessary in football, the world over big clubs have gone through the same patch that we are going through. We will not succumb to our supporters’ demands that we change the technical bench, certainly not,” said Jere.
He said the executive knew what the technical team was building and very soon the project would start producing results.
With the win Gunners moved to sixth place on the log standings with seven points, the same number as Highlanders who were inactive and Hwange, who beat Buffaloes 1-0 at the Colliery Stadium courtesy of a Gerald Ndlovu penalty.
The three teams are four points shy of joint leaders Chicken Inn and Shabanie Mine who drew and won their games respectively.
Chicken Inn scored through a Danny Phiri penalty with Joel Ngodzo scoring a beauty for FC Platinum to settle for a draw.
Shabanie Mine prevailed in their second Midlands derby when they beat debutants Hardbody 1-0 with a Nelson Mazivisa solitary strike in the 35th minute.
The Chinda Boys are on second position through inferior goal difference compared to the Adam Ndlovu-coached Bulawayo side and together with Highlanders and FC Platinum, they remain the only teams yet to lose in the league.
Online Reporter