Online Reporter
Innocent Kurira-Zimpapers Sports Hub
HARDROCK’S capacity to fight for honours will be tested in the next few days, beginning this afternoon, when they fight on two fronts.
They face champions Scottland in a Chibuku Super Cup quarter-final match at Rufaro today.
Then, the Kwekwe side will travel to Bulawayo for a date against Highlanders in a league match at the weekend.
Hardrock are bidding to become the second club, in successive seasons, to win the league championship in their first season in the top-flight league.
To do that they will have to beat Scottland, who won the title in their first season in the PSL last year, to the crown.
Scottland ended 41 years of waiting, for the newboys to win the PSL title, as they followed in the footsteps of Black Rhinos, who did it in 1984.
Now, the Scotts, who hold a one-point lead at the top of the table, can become the first team to win the league, in their first season, and then defend their crown.
But, if there is a team which can stop them, then it’s Hardrock.
While they took four points from their rivals in the league, Scottland know that this is a different Hardrock, which they will meet in the Chibuku Super Cup showdown, at Rufaro today.
Then, after today’s business, Hardrock will switch their attention to a date against Bosso in Bulawayo.
Bosso, who have reached the semi-finals of the Chibuku Super Cup, will be looking to finish as high as possible on the log standings.
A home victory against one of the leading sides would provide a major boost to those ambitions.
Adding another layer to the contest is the presence of Hardrock coach Kelvin Kaindu who knows Highlanders and the expectations that come with playing at Barbourfields.
He has previously coached the Bulawayo giants.
Then there is the Mongameli Tshuma factor.
The midfielder has committed himself to joining Hardrock from the beginning of next season.
The question which arises is whether Mongameli can be focused enough to ensure he leads Bosso to victory against a side he will be joining next season.
It’s an open secret that Mongameli also wants to play in the Champions League and that can only happen if Hardrock win the league.
Can he then turn on the show to ensure he destroys those hopes by guiding Bosso to victory against the Kasongo Boys on Saturday?
The visit will also be Hardrock’s first trip to Barbourfields to face Highlanders, bringing an unfamiliar setting into the equation for the title-chasing side.
The fixture is being played on a Saturday, with Highlanders traditionally accustomed to hosting their home matches on Sundays.
The change has been necessitated by the national team’s programme, with players who have been called up for international duty expected to leave on Sunday.
Highlanders will also take confidence from the first meeting between the two sides, where they stunned Hardrock 1-0 at Chahwanda.
Reason Sibanda was the difference between the teams on that occasion, coming off the bench to produce a brilliant acrobatic finish against the run of play.
That result demonstrated Highlanders’ ability to hurt Hardrock even when they are not dominating possession or territory, something Kaindu’s charges will be mindful of when they walk out at Barbourfields.
The second meeting promises to be a different proposition, particularly with Hardrock fighting to keep pace with Scottland at the top of the standings.
Every point matters at this stage of the campaign, and Hardrock cannot afford to drop points if they are to maintain pressure on the defending champions.
Highlanders, however, will have little reason to make life easy for their visitors.
