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the two teams clash in a Castle Lager Premier Soccer League encounter at Barbourfields Stadium this afternoon.
The match is one of the league games lined up by the Premier Soccer League as focus shifts to an 18 November end of season finale.
Buffaloes come to Barbourfields fortress where Highlanders are yet to lose a match this season at the back of a 1-1 draw with relegation haunted Hwange.
Tshilamoya at the weekend turned on the power in the second half to draw 1-1 with bitter rivals Dynamos at Rufaro Stadium. Bosso had fallen to an 11th minute Simba Sithole strike before Soccer Star of the Year finalist favourite Bruce Kangwa levelled matters seven minutes before full time.
Despite all the impressive statistics for Highlanders, Buffaloes coach Saul Chaminuka said he was confident his boys will today rise to the occasion.
“We want to finish the season on a good note and that means winning our games, this one included.
“We attach no special tag to Highlanders hence our preparations were for a league match not for Highlanders. Bosso to us is just like any other team so there is nothing special about them,” said Chaminuka.
The former Masvingo United and Shabanie Mine mentor’s confidence could be coming from the fact that his boys were the first to deny Highlanders maximum points by holding them to a 1-1 draw in the reverse fixture at Sakubva Stadium. In fact Highlanders had to come from behind through Beavan Chikaka deep into the match.
Chaminuka however said his side has been badly hit by injuries but said the replacements will be equal to the task.
“I will not reveal the names of the injured players lest Highlanders coach Kelvin Kaindu comes up with a counter strategy,” said Chaminuka who said four of his regular players were out because of injuries.
Highlanders cannot afford to slip at this stage of the race in a bid to keep pressure on log leaders Dynamos who are taking on police side Black Mambas at Morris Depot today. Bosso trail DeMbare by two points and can shoot to the top by a single point if Black Mambas who are still not safe from relegation perform a Houdini act and stun Dynamos.
Their professionalism however comes under heavy scrutiny after their supporters and some players shocked all and sundry by celebrating a Dynamos victory over Hwange.
Bosso are likely to start with the same line-up that did duty against Dynamos with the gangly Cleopas Dube still searching for his first goal since joining the Bulawayo giants from ZPC (Hwange).
What might be comforting for Bosso’s technical bench is that Dube has some flashes of brilliance.
He also has pace and can protect the ball well and is also good in the air.
“I would not say which formation we will adopt for the Buffaloes match as that will depend on the situation on the ground. We prepared well for the match and are ready mentally and physically,” said Kaindu.
He said he has a few knocks but would not complain much.
The two are separated by a massive 16 points.
Asked to comment on the absence of Peter Moyo and Milton Ncube during Sunday’s epic battle against DeMbare, Kaindu said their absence was purely technical thereby quashing rumours that the duo had been suspended.
There were unconfirmed reports that the pair was suspended for taking part in an unsanctioned fundraising function in Filabusi.
In other matches, fourth-placed Chicken Inn will play host to Blue Rangers at Luveve Stadium eyeing a top four finish that could guarantee them a dance in the Caf Champions League next year, especially if Monomotapa go all the way and lift the Mbada Diamonds Cup and choose to compete in the Caf Confederation Cup.
Zimbabwe was allocated two Champions League and the same number of slots in the Confederation Cup but second-placed Highlanders have a three-year ban imposed by Caf after Zifa registered the club for the 2012 Caf Confederation Cup without the consent of the club.
Chicken Inn have previously said they are eyeing a top eight finish but seem to have changed that line of thinking as they now eye the African jungles journey.
With quality players like central backs Felix Chindungwe and Guide Goddard, coach Adam Ndlovu really has no reason to doubt a top four finish.
Fixtures
Black Mambas v Dynamos (Morris Depot), Harare City v Caps United (Rufaro), Hwange v Hardbody (Colliery), Chicken Inn v Blue Rangers (Luveve), Shabanie Mine v FC Platinum (Maglas), Highlanders v Buffaloes (Barbourfields), Gunners v Monomotapa (Larfarge)
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