DE JONGH WANTS TO TAKE RISKS

Innocent Kurira

Zimpapers Sports Hub

HIGHLANDERS coach Pieter de Jongh says he has drawn vital lessons from last week’s league encounter against Dynamos and is prepared to take calculated risks.

The two giants meet again in the Chibuku Super Cup semi-final at Rufaro on Sunday.

They drew 1-1 in a tense affair at Barbourfields that underlined the fierce rivalry between the traditional powerhouses.

But De Jongh insists that the Cup fixture will be a different contest altogether, one that demands boldness and courage.

“The last game was a league game and we needed to be a bit cautious but this time around it’s a Cup game, we will take risks we could not take last Sunday,” said De Jongh.

“We play two times in a week against our big opponents. The game at BF last Sunday was a good game. The upcoming game is a Cup game which means there has to be a winner.

“In Cup football, there has to be a winner. The weather is changing, the rainy season has started and I hope the pitch in Harare has no problems because of the rain. It’s a big game,” said De Jongh.

He added:

“Morale is good because we have everyone available. We have no suspensions. Reason Sibanda played a bit last week and he is still recovering. He was not 100 percent fit at that moment.

“Everyone is available. Let’s enjoy the game and hope for a good result. We will do everything in our hands to go to the Cup final.”

The Dutch mentor believes Sunday’s league stalemate provided an insight into Dynamos’ strengths and weaknesses.

“I have a clear picture of what we have to do on Sunday. Of course, we respect the opponents. We are bitter opponents, enemies, but for me both teams have a big status in Zimbabwean football and Zimbabwean football needs both teams.

“I know Dynamos have won three times via penalty shoot-outs and we also won a game through a penalty shoot-out.

“We just hope we will do our job inside 90 minutes without going to penalty shoot-outs. But I am not scared of a penalty shoot-out,” said De Jongh.

Of the four remaining teams, only Dynamos, Highlanders, and Triangle United have lifted the trophy.

Triangle meet Premiership debutants MWOS in the other semi-final at Ngoni on Saturday.