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Lovemore Dube Sports Editor
CHICKEN Inn’s Mandla Mpofu and Highlanders’ Kelvin Kaindu yesterday predicted a difficult city derby when the two teams clash in a Castle Lager Premiership tie at Barbourfields Stadium. Both teams go into the match with contrasting fortunes from their previous encounters with Bosso having been beaten 1-0 by the Gamecocks. The city’s most successful team will have revenge high on their agenda while their opponents fight for pride and the right to call the shots among the city’s three Premiership teams having beaten How Mine as well in the first round of the Castle Lager race.
“It is going to be a difficult game considering that we beat them in the first leg. They will come at us wanting to revenge and that will make life difficult for us certainly.
“Our preparations for the match have gone on well. We are however going to be without some of our key players, which could give those thrown onto the fray a chance to shine. They will want to take the opportunity to prove their worth on the field,” said Mpofu.
The Gamecocks will be without Tendai Ndoro, the country’s leading goalscorer who is away in Zambia with the Warriors and teammate Felix Chindungwe.
Stocky rightback Tonisani Sibelo and anchorman Thabani Goredema will miss the game due to suspension after accumulating three cards.
It is the strength of the Chicken Inn squad who despite missing four key players still look like a potent force that should be giving the Highlanders camp sleepless nights.
Chronicle Sport could not establish whether Dylan Chivandire and Clemence Matawu rumoured to be on the way to Bulawayo for the past fortnight have since joined the club.
Guide Goddard is expected to marshal the defence with Brian Mbiriri, one of the league’s most underrated leftbacks, set to add breadth to the team’s attack from his flank.
Small package Brian Juru is the automatic choice for the anchorman’s role with Kudakwashe Mahachi eager to make it two goals against Highlanders.
He scored a scorcher against Ariel Sibanda in the reverse fixture benefiting from an unnecessary tackle by Bruce Tshuma 35m out.
On and off talented forward Tendai Mukambi is expected to lead the Chicken Inn attack.
In an interview after yesterday’s afternoon training session which ended after 5pm, Bosso coach Kaindu admitted that it was a difficult fixture.
“I think we are prepared for the match. Our preparations went well and we are ready for the game. Apart from Bruce Kangwa who is serving suspension, we have Hillary Madzivanyika who was injured in our last match. The rest of the guys are available. It is going to be a difficult match since we lost the previous match but we will be out to win. Everyone wants maximum points,” said Kaindu.
He said soccer was a highly unpredictable game and only the final whistle would determine the winner.
Bosso will be without goalkeeper Munyaradzi Diya and midfielder Masimba Mambare who are with the Warriors in Zambia.
A mouthwatering clash looks on the cards in Beitbridge with hosts Tripple B taking on Black Mambas. Both teams are staring relegation and will both be fighting for the three points.
The match is on today.
In Hwange, Caps United will be making a second consecutive away trip following last Sunday’s hard earned draw against Highlanders. They will not have it easy against a Hwange side that is eager to climb up the log standings tomorrow.
Gilbert Zulu, Gerald Ndlovu and Timothy Sibanda are expected to play a leading role for the home side’s quest for maximum points.
Dominic Chungwa will lead the Caps United strikeforce who will be without ill-disciplined Arnold Chivheya who was red carded last week.
In Zvishavane Shabanie Mine will meet Black Rhinos tomorrow with action starting this afternoon with Lloyd Mutasa a 1-2 loser to Black Rhinos last weekend expecting to guide FC Platinum to victory against Motor Action at Mandava.
In Harare, Dynamos will take on Buffaloes at Rufaro Stadium tomorrow afternoon.
Fixtures
Today: Tripple B v Black Mambas (Dulibadzimu), FC Platinum v Motor Action (Mandava), Monomotapa v Harare City (Rufaro)
Tomorrow: Chicken Inn v Highlanders (Barbourfields), Shabanie Mine v Black Rhinos), Hwange v Caps United (Colliery), Triangle v How Mine (Gibbo), Dynamos v Buffaloes (Rufaro)
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