Online Reporter
Innocent Kurira, Zimpapers Sports Hub
FOLLOWING the exhilaration of last weekend’s dramatic Chibuku Super Cup quarter-final win, Highlanders must now set their celebrations aside and face a much grittier reality: the fight to stay in the Castle Lager Premier Soccer League.
Bosso got past Scottland on penalties after a thrilling 2-2 draw, securing a spot in the semi-finals of the country’s mainknock-out competition. But as their coach, Pieter De Jongh, is quick to remind his players, the league takes priority now.
“Right now, we are only focused on one thing, which is surviving relegation. We need seven points from the six matches remaining. As I have said before, 40 points should be enough to secure our place in the topflight, and that is our main target,” said De Jongh.
With only six games left, Highlanders are in ninth place on 33 points, just four points clear of the drop zone. ZPC Kariba, who are in eighth position, sit just one rung above them on 37 points.
“The feeling is still good after the cup win, but the past is the past. We now turn our attention to the league. Kariba are on 37 points, and we are on 33. It’s a big game. We have to win it to move closer to safety. Kariba are a good team, we saw them against Chicken Inn, and they were also solid against Dynamos, only losing in a shoot-out last week. We have to give our best,” De Jongh said.
Since the league’s expansion to 18 teams in 2017, between 39 and 41 points have typically been enough to avoid relegation, a target De Jongh is keenly focused on. The Highlanders’ faithful were a huge driving force behind last weekend’s triumph, and the Dutchman is counting on them again as the team heads into a critical final stretch at home.
“I call on the fans to come in their numbers like they did against Scottland. Our fans are amazing and we need them again on Sunday as we shift attention to the league. The mood is good. The atmosphere is good. We know that this is a very difficult game. I hope to see a lot of fans on Sunday like last weekend against Scottland because our fans are amazing; big support that we had and we also need it this Sunday because the game is equally important,” said De Jongh.
ZPC Kariba come into the match as a disciplined and resilient side. Their recent performances, including a solid display against Chicken Inn and a narrow penalty loss to Dynamos, have shown they’re not to be underestimated.
“If you look at their statistics; it’s interesting. They have good players and it’s not going to be easy. We look forward to a good result and we will do everything to get that. ZPC Kariba is a good team, we respect them. We saw them play against Chicken
Inn in the (Chibuku) Super Cup,” De Jongh said.
Highlanders’ remaining fixtures are far from easy. After ZPC Kariba, they face Herentals away, then Dynamos at home — a fixture that could be a huge clash as both sides are close to the relegation places. A daunting away tie to league leaders Simba
Bhora follows, before they host Manica Diamonds and then finish the season with a derby against Chicken Inn.
With every point now crucial, Sunday’s match is more than just a mid-table battle; it’s a fight for top-flight survival, and for Highlanders, it all starts again at Emagumeni.
Friday
Scottland v Manica Diamonds (Rufaro Stadium)
Saturday
Bikita Minerals v FC Platinum (Gibbo Stadium), Yadah v TelOne (Heart Stadium), Ngezi Platinum Stars v Herentals (Baobab Stadium), Greenfuel v Chicken Inn (Greenfuel Arena)
Sunday
Highlanders v ZPC Kariba (Barbourfields Stadium), CAPS United v Dynamos (Rufaro Stadium), Triangle United v Simba Bhora (Gibbo Stadium), Kwekwe United v MWOS (Ascot Stadium).3
Bongani Ndlovu