adminAFTER bringing an end to their six-match winless streak in the Castle League Premier Soccer League last Sunday with a 2-0 victory over How Mine, Highlanders will look to maintain their new-found winning ways when they clash with Border Strikers at Dulivhadzimu Stadium in Beitbridge this afternoon.
Prior to their victory last Sunday, the second over the gold miners, Bosso had only managed to pick two points from a possible 18. This has seen Highlanders, who were on top of the log for the better part of the first-half of the season lag behind in the race for the championship. Bosso headed into this weekend’s fixtures eight points behind the table topping FC Platinum and five short of second-placed Caps United.
Border Strikers have found the going tough in their maiden season in top flight football. Vavheneki are at the bottom of the log standings with 13 points, secured from three wins and one draw. One of those victories was a 2-1 triumph over former champions Dynamos at Dulivhadzimu on 7 August. Two weeks ago, they triumphed over Ngezi Platinum but last Saturday they were drubbed 3-0 by Chapungu.
It is their win over Dynamos that has made Highlanders coach Erol Akbay not to take the minnows likely. Speaking at the club’s weekly Press conference last Thursday, Akbay believes that they cannot afford to lose to such a small team, even if it means winning without playing excellent football. He is convinced that they are still in the race for the championship with nine matches to go and for that to happen they have to score goals and tighten at the back.
“We did play them before, it should be the same game as we played last Sunday, we have to try all the time to play football, we have to score, we hope that we score our chances, these are always difficult games for big clubs, we have to focus on winning again, we can’t afford to lose to these kind of small teams, we have to focus, even if it means without nice football that we have to win. Championship is not done, it’s still open for everyone, number 12 on the league has 27 points, if they win four, five games they can also be at the top, that means everybody can be a champion, that means every club is concentrating on every game, clubs who score easy and have better defence have the most chances to be champions,’’ said Akbay.
The two teams met in a mid-week fixture on 22 June at Barbourfields Stadium with Bosso winning 2-0, both goals scored by Bruce Kangwa who has since left to join Tanzanian club Azam. Highlanders have to do without their leader for last Sunday’s encounter Erick Mudzingwa who misses out after accumulating three yellow cards. That should pave way for team captain Felix Chindungwe to return to the side.
Goalkeeper Prosper Matutu who has started the last two matches has been ruled out by an ankle injury he picked up in a collision with How Mine player Milton Ncube which saw him being replaced by Ariel Sibanda who also struggled to finish the match because of a shoulder ailment. Akbay disclosed that Sibanda and Njabulo Nyoni are available for selection.
Highlanders strikers have been struggling to score goals especially during the second half of the season, something that is a concern for Akbay. The Dutchman believes that there is nothing much he can do except to continue having faith in them. Nhlanhla Ndlovu, who struggled in his first few matches for Highlanders, played probably his best in the black and white shirt last Sunday. If he combines well with Prince Dube, then a second win in a row is guaranteed for Bosso.
If the Never Malunga-coached Border Strikers are to claim another high profile victory this afternoon, the likes of William Nyoni, Tabwe Kalunga, Tendai Mukambi, Ephraim Mwinga, Michael Variso, Godfrey Mukambi, Tafadzwa Jaravani, Talent Sande have to be on top of their game this afternoon.
In the other two fixtures lined up for this afternoon, Triangle United welcome Caps United to Gibbo Stadium while Dynamos clash with Chapungu at Rufaro.
Fixtures
Today: Triangle United v Caps United (Gibbo Stadium), Dynamos v Chapungu (Rufaro Stadium), Border Strikers v Highlanders (Dulivhadzimu).
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Online Reporter