Clash of the titans

at Barbourfields Stadium when they clash in the third edition of the Bob 89 Super Cup first leg final.

The Bob 89 Super Cup competition is part of the celebrations to mark President Mugabe’s birthday who turns 89 on 21 February.

 

The country’s traditional soccer giants Bosso and Dembare are battling it out in the final which is being played over two legs.

Rufaro Stadium will then play host to the final leg in a fortnight’s time.

Dynamos warned Highlanders saying they are coming for a win. Last year the two teams played to 1-1 draws in both their league matches at Barbourfields and Rufaro stadia.

Highlanders coach Kelvin Kaindu said they were ready for Dynamos and were excited to be part of President Mugabe’s celebrations.

He said they are also using the final to assess their players for the season.

“Like I said before, it is an honour to be in President Mugabe’s Cup and to me it shows that the President himself wants to see the sport grow as well as unite the people through football that is why big teams like Highlanders and Dynamos have been selected to play in this tournament. All the matches that Highlanders and Dynamos play in are always big games where supporters are guaranteed exciting football.

“We also appreciate the sponsorship and the monetary value attached to the game. The boys have been training hard and I am sure the players are going to hold their own,” said Kaindu.

The Zambian expatriate is likely to bank mostly on players who featured for Highlanders against Mamelodi Sundowns last week.

Some of the players expected to lead Bosso against Dynamos include skipper Innocent Mapuranga, the club’s 2012 Players Player of the Year Eric Mudzingwa, Ariel Sibanda who won the league’s Goalkeeper of the Year accolade, Bruce Kangwa and Bruce Tshuma.

Castle Lager 2012 Soccer Star of the Year finalists Masimba Mambare and Mthulisi Maphosa, Bhekimpilo Ncube, Peter “Rio” Moyo, Milton Ncube, Heritein Masuku, Graham Ncube and Young Warriors’ Knox Mutizwa are some of the players who featured against Mamelodi Sundowns.

Kaindu might also decide on throwing into the fray trialists who include ex-Bosso captain Gilbert Banda, Thembani Masuku, Njabulo “Tshiki” Ncube, Fortune Ncube and Thabani Moyo.

Moyo and Masuku got some game time against Sundowns.

Meanwhile, Dynamos have said they are coming to Bulawayo to beat Bosso and nothing else.

In a telephone interview from Harare yesterday, Kenny Mubaiwa, the Dynamos chairman, said they were using tomorrow’s encounter to fine-tune their preparations ahead of their home Caf Champions League preliminary round match against Lesotho Correctional Services next week.

He said they were expecting a tough match from Highlanders who they beat to the Castle Lager Premiership title by a superior goal difference last season.

“I think Highlanders are going to give us a good run and this is a match which we believe is going to test the level of preparedness for our continental journey. Highlanders are a good team, they have retained all their players which we respect but we will not respect them on the field of play as we want to beat them.

“Last year we drew all our games but this being a final means that one team will win at the end of the day and I want to state that come Sunday, we will beat them and finish them off in two weeks time,” said Mubaiwa.

He said his team arrived yesterday in Bulawayo for the encounter.

Mubaiwa also spoke about the huge purse at stake which he said would go a long way in assisting both clubs.

The winner of the tournament will get an incredible $100 000, a trophy and medals with the losers being consoled with a cool $70 000.

Dynamos coach Callisto Pasuwa will pin their hopes on goalkeeper George Chigova, defence stalwart Patson Jaure, Ocean Mushure, Thomas Magorimbo, Cliff Sekete and skipper Tawanda Muparati who were part of the team that played in the 1-1 draw against Highlanders last season.

Dynamos fans in Bulawayo are likely to see new acquisitions who include Ugandan striker Boban Zirintusa and former Highlanders midfielder Stephen Alimenda in action.

Meanwhile, organisers have revealed that an Air Force of Zimbabwe helicopter will this morning bring  the trophy in the Central Business District of the city with captains from both sides taking it for a dual road show around the city and residential areas.