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The match is one of the four matches lined up across the country tomorrow with the weekend action ending with four other matches on Sunday as top-flight soccer action is finally back after several league matches were postponed in the past few weeks.
Bulawayo fans will have double action starting tomorrow with the visit of a badly bruised Hwange who will take on “history” makers Chicken Inn at Luveve Stadium.
The Adam Ndlovu coached side became the first side this year to share points with Highlanders at Barbourfields Stadium.
Sunday will be a clash of the league debutants between Bulawayo side Quelaton and Gweru-based Hardbody whose camp is reported to be in turmoil following reports of infighting with the executive.
Quelaton recently hired Philani “Beefy” Ncube whose mandate is to steer the ship away from the relegation zone.
Real action though will be at Rufaro Stadium when Highlanders clash with Motor Action.
“Highlanders are the team to beat at the moment and we are hoping we will become the first to do that by bursting their bubble,” said Motor Action coach Joe Antipas whose side will be without long serving goalkeeper Marlon Jani who is down with an illness.
The gangly goalie has always been an intimidating figure and in his absence young Ronald Mudimu will be called upon to guard the posts in what could be his biggest match.
“Our boys have been doing well in training and I hope that will be shown on the field of play on Saturday,” said Antipas.
His confidence probably comes from the statistical advantage that Motor Action has over the Kelvin Kaindu-coached giants who are leading the pack by five points.
Highlanders have not beaten Motor Action since 2009 with the best being back to back one-all draws in that year and the nil-all draw in 2010.
Last year, The Bulls registered back to back wins over Bosso, winning 2-0 at Barbourfields Stadium before chalking a 1-0 win in the reverse fixture.
To show that those wins were not flukes, the 2010 championship winners beat Highlanders again in the BancABC Sup8r final at Barbourfields Stadium.
Kaindu said he did not want to read much into the statistics as his boys were looking forward to the Harare trip.
“Everything is fine, the boys are responding well to training and the last two draws did not affect the morale of the boys at all,” said Kaindu who still insists the team is yet to reach its full potential.
He said the match was likely to be a thrilling one as both teams play an open game although his side will miss three players due to injuries.
“Milton Ncube is out due to a knee injury, Heritein Masuku has an elbow injury while Arnold Ndiweni picked up an ankle injury during training and will have to pass a late fitness test,” said the Highlanders team doctor, Xolani Ndlovu.
Kaindu said while they will miss the injured players, the team has able replacements because in all they do, they do it as a team and they registered 30 equally good players.
Ncube would have faced his former paymaster together with Masimba Mambare.
ABSA Premiership champions Orlando Pirates’ chief scout Screamer Tshabalala is expected to watch the match although it is not yet clear which Highlanders players are on their radar.
In other matches tomorrow, resurgent Caps United, who have won their last four games after going for a massive six games without a win from the start of the season will play host to Mutare-based Buffaloes at the giant National Sports Stadium while Harare City who beat Dynamos on Wednesday take on Black Mambas at Gwanzura Stadium.
On Sunday the Harare giants, still trying to come to grips with the painful defeat they suffered to Harare City, have a tricky assignment at Larfarge Stadium where they will face Gunners.
Back from a successful trip to Hwange where they won 4-1 Shabanie Mine have a home date with Monomotapa while another Zvishavane-based outfit, FC Platinum will be on the road to Blue Rangers in a match set for Gwanzura Stadium.
Fixtures
Saturday: Chicken Inn v Hwange (Luveve); CAPS United v Buffaloes (National Sports Stadium); Motor Action v Highlanders (Rufaro); Harare City v Black Mambas (Gwanzura);
Sunday: Gunners v Dynamos (Larfarge); Quelaton v Hardbody (Luveve); Shabanie Mine v Monomotapa (Maglas); Blue Rangers vFC Platinum (Gwanzura)
Online Reporter