admin
Peter Phiri Sports Correspondent
HIGHLANDERS Football Club are looking for a positive result when they engage Caps United in a Castle Lager Premier Soccer League match at the National Sports Stadium today. Bosso were beaten 1-0 by Chicken Inn on Wednesday but still maintained their top position on the Premiership standings while Caps United are fresh from a 2-0 morale boosting victory over Hwange Football Club.
Coach Kelvin Kaindu is wary of the threat posed by their opponents despite beating them in both fixtures last year.
‘‘We are just coming from a defeat and the game against Caps United is a difficult one. Caps United have been playing well and we are expecting a tough game in Harare,’’ said Kaindu.
Asked if the defeat by Chicken Inn had not affected morale in the team, Kaindu said that result was now behind them.
‘‘The defeat at the hands of Chicken Inn is now behind us and what matters is tomorrow’s (today) encounter against Caps United. We are just focusing on our game against Caps United and hopefully come out with a positive result,’’ he said.
Although he could not be drawn into revealing his starting line up, Kaindu is likely to retain the same team that played Chicken Inn with slight changes.
If he makes any changes it might be in the strikeforce which was woeful against the Chicken Inn defence.
Ariel Sibanda is likely to retain his place in goal ahead of Munyaradzi Diya while captain Innocent Mapuranga, Dumisani ‘‘Fazo’’ Ndlovu, Bruce Tshuma and Bruce Kangwa will provide extra cover for him.
Heritein Masuku and Milton Ncube could operate from the flanks.
Njabulo ‘‘Tshiki’’ Ncube who was a lone striker on Wednesday is expected to shoulder the scoring responsibilities again if Kaindu does not give either Cleopas Dube, Graham Ncube and Beavan Chikaka who seem to have the verve to go once on the field. They terrorise defenders on and off the ball while Njabulo is as tame as a donkey.
National team midfielder Masimba Mambare whose exclusion when other clubs fielded their best players on Wednesday who did in duty in Guinea, could add to the options in attack.
Ozias Zibande is another option available for Kaindu to bolster his strikeforce.
Zibande made an impact when he came as a second half substitute against Chicken Inn with forceful runs and his pace and power might be the tonic that Bosso needs.
Caps United coach Taurai Mangwiro has predicted a tough game for his team saying Highlanders are a big threat.
‘‘We are playing a big team, Highlanders are the league pacesetters and I have been calling for a disciplined approach from my boys. We need to play well against Highlanders and salvage something because our opponents are a big threat,’’ said Mangwiro.
Rahman Kutsanzira who suffered a knock against Hwange is back in the team and so is Hardlife Zvirekwi who was with the national team.
Veteran goalkeeper Tafadzwa Dube who has just been called up to the national team will be guarding the goalposts for Caps United.
Tapiwa Kumbuyani, Ronald Pfumbidzai, Arnold Chivheya and Tawanda Munyanduri will be holding fort in defence.
Upfront Kutsanzira, David Rediyoni, Tawanda Nyamandwe, Dominic Chungwa and Tendai Samanja will be searching for goals.
The Bosso rearguard needs to keep these at bay if they are to come out with a positive result in Harare.
How Mine are away to defending champions Dynamos who were gored by Buffaloes on Wednesday.
Mabhena should be wary of the danger posed by DeMbare especially now when they are deeply wounded.
The gold miners need to sharpen their strikeforce which was not convincing against Triangle United.
Harare City who have just reduced the gap between themselves and Highlanders to just one point travel to the Colliery to face struggling Hwange FC.
Triangle United lock horns with Buffaloes at Gibbo Stadium and coach Gishon Ntini has said time and again that his team is there to stay in the Premiership but only time will tell.
Buffaloes would like to prove that their victory over DeMbare was no fluke by collecting another set of three points against Triangle.
Fixtures
Today: Caps United v Highlanders (National Sports), Tripple B v Buffaloes (Dulibadzimu), FC Platinum v Black Rhinos (Mandava)
Tomorrow: Shabanie Mine v Chicken Inn (Maglas), Triangle United v Black Mambas (Gibbo), Dynamos v How Mine (Rufaro), Hwange v Harare City (Colliery)
Online Reporter