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The match is one of the two games set for the city this weekend with the other pitting debutants Quelaton and Hardbody at the same venue tomorrow. The Hardbody house is on fire following serious divisions between the executive and the club’s board of directors. So severe are the differences that chairman Patrick Chikwanda is expected to tender his resignation this afternoon.
Reports from the Quelaton camp seem to indicate that new gaffer Philani “Beefy” Ncube has brought in a new sense of belief in the players with the training sessions showing a businesslike approach. Ncube took over from Farai Sibanda who had been holding fort following the sacking of Thulani Sibanda after a string of poor results in which the team recorded four losses on the trot.
The final straw was the 3-0 loss to 2010 champions Motor Action at Luveve Stadium.
City giants and leaders on the log standings, Highlanders left the city yesterday for a potentially explosive encounter against Motor Action at Rufaro Stadium this afternoon.
Bosso are yet to beat Mighty Bulls in six league matches and one cup game since 2009 and would certainly want to put that embarrassing history well behind them with a positive result today.
Motor Action will be without gangly goalkeeper Marlon Jani while Bosso will miss three players, Milton Ncube, Heritein Masuku and Arnold Ndiweni.
At Luveve though, Chicken Inn are aware of the danger posed by Chipangano, who were left shell-shocked following a 4-1 mauling by Shabanie Mine at their home ground, Colliery Stadium, in their last league match.
“We have a clean bill of health and we are ready for the visitors. We just want to continue from where we left against Highlanders although we are aware of the kind of task we are up against,” said the man who plotted the near demise of Tshilamoya, Adam Ndlovu.
He said even the boys were aware that Hwange rarely post back to back losses and therefore they will come out guns blazing for maximum points.
“It will be a good game, I believe,” said Ndlovu.
He welcomes back veteran defender Herbert Dick who missed the Bosso match due to suspension although there are no guarantees that he will start.
“It’s difficult to change a winning team and even though we did not win against Highlanders, the guys put up a gusty performance and what justification will we have to change the team. Dick might start or sit on the bench depending on our final decision as a bench,” said the former Warriors frontman.
In the absence of Dick, former Highlanders player Guide Goddard partnered stand-in skipper Felix Chindungwe in central defence and the duo like Ndlovu said, put up a brilliant performance to deny Bosso the much needed goals.
A brave Hwange coach, Tennant Chilumba, who will miss his defence rock David Boriwondo and goalkeeper Petros Mhari said the team will soldier on and was confident of a positive result.
“I don’t think the absence of the two will affect our game plan, no, not at all. We have replacements,” said Chilumba.
Chilumba’s worry could be in defence only as national team trialist, Timothy Sibanda who has always performed his duties with distinction when in goals will miss the game.
An explosive situation is on the cards at Rufaro Stadium when champions Dynamos take on Gunners in what really could define coach Callisto Pasuwa’s destiny at the club. There were running battles between riot police and angry supporters baying for Pasuwa’s blood following the shock 1-0 loss to Harare City on Wednesday and another loss tomorrow is certainly not on the supporters’ mind.
Gunners lie just below Dynamos on the log table although both clubs have 14 points. In the reverse fixture last year, DeMbare won 3-1 but then, the Glamour boys were on a roll.
Pasuwa’s job has always been on the wire with former Warriors coach Norman Mapeza’s name linked to the DeMbare dressing room. Former coach Elvis Chuchu Chiweshe has also reportedly been chatting to some kingmakers at the Harare giants.
Fixtures:
Today: Chicken Inn v Hwange (Luveve); CAPS United v Buffaloes (National Sports Stadium); Motor Action v Highlanders (Rufaro); Harare City v Black Mambas (Gwanzura);
Tomorrow: Gunners v Dynamos (Larfarge); Quelaton v Hardbody (Luveve); Shabanie Mine v Monomotapa (Maglas); Blue Rangers vFC Platinum (Gwanzura)
Online Reporter