Clash of the giants at B/F

Ricky Zililo Sports Reporter
TOMORROW at 3pm, the long wait for the country’s biggest fixture of the season in the Castle Lager Premier Soccer League ends when Highlanders and Dynamos clash in a potentially explosive encounter. Bulawayo’s ceremonial home of soccer, Barbourfields Stadium, is where the two giants will meet in a match that many believe will have a bearing on the 2013 championship destiny.

The clash of the titans will be beamed live on the world of champions SuperSport meaning that football followers in other parts of Africa who can access the pay-per-view channel will have a chance to watch Zimbabwe’s biggest match.

The clash comes at a good time as both teams are chasing the title with Highlanders sitting at the top of the log with 47 points from 25 outings while Dynamos are second on the standings, trailing their opponents by two points.

A victory by Highlanders will see them stretching their lead over their perennial rivals to five points with a win for DeMbare seeing them taking a point-lead over Bosso.

With so much to play for, an exhilarating display is in the offing at Emagumeni.
What makes the match even more interesting is that Highlanders who many, including this writer, had at some stage written them off as championship contenders, have awoken from their slumber, managing to take their campaign back on track.

In their last five matches, Highlanders have managed to collect 10 out of a possible 15 points with victories against FC Platinum, Tripple B and Black Rhinos losing to How Mine and sharing the spoils with Buffaloes.

On the other hand, DeMbare managed seven points out of a possible 15 points collecting maximum points against Caps United and Tripple B, losing to Hwange and FC Platinum. Dynamos played to a goalless draw with Monomotapa in the process.

Coming to Bulawayo tomorrow, Dynamos are riding on history which favours them as they have not lost a league match against the Bulawayo giants since 2006 but the defending champions are aware that Bosso are enjoying a good run.

The reigning champions, who are seeking a third consecutive title, have not been good on the road this season, suffering all their four defeats away from Harare. Their away losses were against FC Platinum (2-0) at Mandava, (2-3) to Buffaloes in Mutare, (0-1) in Bulawayo against How Mine and their biggest defeat being the 2-4 they recorded at the Colliery Stadium against Hwange.

Judging by their present performance, Highlanders’ players are psychologically stable than their opponents.
Over the last weeks, the attitude of Highlanders players has been admirable as they are fighting for every ball, managing to chase back and above all they are scoring with ease.

Led by resurgent striker Njabulo “Tshiki” Ncube who believes it’s time to payback the club which plugged him from the football grave by helping the Bulawayo giants win a league and cup double, Highlanders have shown that they have depth in their squad.

The versatility of their players has seen their coach Kelvin Kaindu rotating players in different positions making it difficult for the opposition teams to plan against them.

Eric Mudzingwa has been played at leftback, central defence, defensive midfielder and most recently as a rightback.
The fact that Kaindu can bench players like Mthulisi Maphosa who has in their last two matches come from the bench to change the complexion of the game, Milton Ncube, Peter “Rio” Moyo and Heritein Masuku shows that he has players who are capable of delivering.
Against Black Rhinos in Kadoma, Kaindu opted to start with former Gwanda Ramblers’ Douglas Sibanda and Hillary Madzivanyika in central midfield before pulling them both out for Maphosa and Beavan Chikaka respectively.

Bhekimpilo Ncube, who spent the better part of the first half of the season on the sidelines with an injury, has also returned to action and has proved to be a vital cog in the squad.

Another player that has been moved around is Simon Munawa who is comfortable as a defensive midfielder but there are times where he has been played as a winger, as a rightback or even behind the strikers.

Highlanders’ 2012 Player of the Season Masimba Mambare seems to have found his form that made him a darling with the Bosso fans and even led to him receiving a national team call up. Mambare is also the locally assembled national team captain.

Tomorrow, it remains to be seen who Kaindu will play.
Other Highlanders’ players capable of winning them the match include evergreen Bruce Kangwa, arguably the best player at Bosso this season who has been effective whenever going forward or defending.

Goalkeeper Munyaradzi Diya has proved to be good for Highlanders’ campaign and so are central defenders Dumisani “Fazo” Ndlovu and skipper Innocent Mapuranga.

Mid-season transfer window speed merchant Gabriel Nyoni has proved to be handy for defenders.
With so many options at his disposal, it remains to be seen who Kaindu will unleash when they face the Glamour Boys at Emagumeni.
On the other hand, Dynamos also have equally good players who seem to have come short of confidence in their last outings.

Dynamos’ coach Callisto Pasuwa is spoilt for choice and has good goalkeepers in George Chigova and Artwel Mukandi.
Patson Jaure has proved to be a vital cog for the Harare giants at the back and his absence was heavily felt when they lost 2-4 to Hwange. It remains to be seen whether Jaure and his central defence partner Thomas Magorimbo will be able to keep up with Nyoni’s pace.
DeMbare also have Sydney Linyama who can play either as a central defender or defensive midfielder.

Their wingbacks Oscar Machapa and Ocean Mushure have also proved dangerous whenever they venture upfront while their midfielders Cliff Sekete, Russell Madamombe and Murape Murape are always tricky customers for their opponents coming from either the right or left link.

Tawanda Muparati, who plays behind the strikers, is always their key man as most of the times he is the one who provides killer passes for their strikers.

There is also Ugandan international Boban Zirintusa who if given free room can inflict damage on Bosso.
Pasuwa can assign Washington Phakamisa, Clive Kawinga, Farai Mupasiri who has not seen much action this season and their latest acquisition Simba Sithole.

Sithole was a flop in South Africa twice, failing to command a regular starting place at Supersport United and Mamelodi Sundowns leading to the clubs offloading him. The striker will definitely want to re-launch his career on the big stage and is aware that it is matches like these that players can use to market themselves. With everything having been said, the question is can Highlanders hand Dynamos their fifth defeat of the season or will the game end in a draw and Bosso go for seven years without beating DeMbare?

Or will Highlanders’ coach Kaindu and his charges manage to put an end to Dynamos’ dominance over the Bulawayo giants?
Will the Dynamos gaffer Pasuwa who has of late come under fire from some sections of the Harare club’s supporters manage to inspire his charges so that they reclaim the top spot and be in line to claim their third consecutive domestic title?

At approximately 1655hrs tomorrow, the above questions would have been answered.