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The blockbuster game, which will be beamed live on SuperSport9, is expected to attract a full house at Rufaro and pits two giants with a lot to play for in their fourth meeting of the season in League and Cup assignments this year.
Dynamos have won all the three matches, one in Bulawayo and two in Harare, including a four-goal romp at Rufaro that blew away Highlanders in the Bob 89 Super Cup.
That DeMbare don’t lose to Bosso, even when the Bulawayo giants are the ones who have the upper hand as was the case on Thursday, has become a cause for concern for the Bosso faithful and a reason to brag loud and clear for the Dynamos fans.
Kaindu turned his venom on the match officials, after his team’s 0-1 defeat in the Independence Cup final, saying match officials were threatening to drive him out of Zimbabwe football.
He was unhappy that what appeared to be a legitimate goal by Beven Chikaka was disallowed by the match officials, giving DeMbare a lifeline they didn’t possibly deserve, on the balance of play, and they cashed on it when an opportunity presented it for them.
“The decision of the referee obviously influenced the result of the game. I thought we had scored a genuine goal and I just want to say I think I am having a problem now to coach in Zimbabwe because every time I try to ask, I am being told the same thing that I will go to the stands,” said Kaindu.
“I think I have done something (good for the game). I came to improve football in Zimbabwe but the referees are not giving me the platform. When somebody complains there must be something wrong.
“I did not complain when they disallowed a goal but I thought so many times we were not given the decision but the moment I say something they send me out. I think it’s being unfair honestly.
“Now I am begging to give instructions to my team. Honestly, I came here to improve football but if I continue being handled this way I would rather leave and go back to Zambia.”
Barely three days after that meeting, the giants re-ignite the flames in the Battle of Zimbabwe when they clash in a Castle Lager Premier Soccer League match at Rufaro tomorrow.
The match, however, comes at the back of mixed fortunes for both sides as the hosts Dynamos are currently under serious pressure to turn things around following a dismal start to the season.
DeMbare, who are the defending league champions, are winless in four starts as they have drawn all their matches and coach Callisto Pasuwa is aware of the huge task at hand as his job is not guaranteed if the poor run continues after he was summoned by his employers last week to explain the bad start.
Dynamos drew against Black Mambas, Chicken Inn, Shabanie Mine and Chicken Inn and are currently in the bottom half of the table while Highlanders have won three and lost one match, to occupy second spot on the lost standings.
But just when it appeared the confidence levels were about to reach their lowest ebb at Dynamos, the Glamour Boys got the inspiration they needed ahead of tomorrow’s tie when they beat Highlanders 1-0 in the Uhuru Cup final courtesy of Murape Murape’s solitary strike on Thursday.
The club’s vice-captain, Tawanda Muparati, believes the Independence Cup success could provide the tonic they needed as they seek to extend their dominance over Bosso to seven years without losing to the Bulawayo giants in the league competition.
Muparati said they were now looking to use the victory as the springboard to re-launch their faltering campaign.
“I am sure the win went a long way to boost our morale in our camp because we had drawn our opening four games of the season,” said Muparati.
“It was disappointing but now beating a big club like Highlanders is such a good morale-booster. We needed such inspiration and we would want to carry the spirit into the next game.”
But the league game promises to be a different affair altogether since Thursday’s clash was more of a dress rehearsal, and fittingly so, as both coaches had rested some of their key players and the match could not rise to the expected levels.
There are likely to be big changes from either side as Pasuwa will turn to players such as Partson Jaure, Cliff Sekete, Thomas Magorimbo and Patrick Kumbula who were reserved for this crucial game.
DeMbare will also be hoping that injured leftback, Ocean Mushure, and their captain Murape who ran himself to a standstill in the last game, are fully fit.
Highlanders coach Kaindu also gave a strong indication that they will field a different side with some of their players like Mthulisi Maphosa, Heritein Masuku, Milton Ncube, Graham Ncube, Bheki Ncube and Erick Mudzingwa all set to be part of the action.
Last year both league encounters ended in identical 1-1 stalemates but DeMbare will not easily forget Bruce Kangwa’s late speculative shot that levelled matters and left goalkeeper George Chigova in tears the last time the two teams met in a league clash.
But Kangwa may not be part of the affair through injury.
The Highlanders camp had bigger worries yesterday as four of their players Dumisani Ndlovu, Simon Munawa, Hillary Madzivanyika and Kangwa were battling for fitness after picking knocks in the Independence Cup final.
Kangwa played the last three minutes of the match in great pain while defender Ndlovu could not last the distance with a back injury.
Kaindu said his side will draw inspiration from their good form.
Highlanders have so far been successful after winning three and losing one game to Motor Action last week at home.
Kaindu said they are hoping to build on the positives from their cup final match against Dynamos which they dominated for the bigger part but failed to take their chances.
The Zambian mentor said Bosso will seek to continue with their attacking game.
“We played a different team (in the Uhuru final) and of course even Dynamos most of their players did not play. But I believe this is a different game and I think we will probably come up with a positive result from there.
“We will change the formation and the way we are going to play but we will always be offensive,” said Kaindu.
Highlanders’ inspirational winger, Masimba Mambare, said it was time they bring Dynamos dominance to an end.
Mambare said he was dejected by the Cup defeat but said Bosso will pick themselves up.
“Football is all about scoring. We were on top of them in terms of possession and creativity but we couldn’t take our chances. So we have to be strong since the games that we have played before cannot in any way determine how we are going to play again.
“We have to find a way to win. It’s going to be a new game with new players coming in. So we have to push ourselves up,” said Mambare.
Fixtures
Today:
Black Mambas v Hwange (Morris Depot), Chicken Inn v Monomotapa (Luveve), Black Rhinos v Motor Action (Rufaro), Triangle v Tripple B (Gibbo)
Tomorow:
Shabanie Mine v FC Platinum (Maglas), How Mine v CAPS United (Luveve), Buffaloes v Harare City (Rufaro), Dynamos v Highlanders(Rufaro).
Online Reporter