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Eddie Chikamhi Senior Sports Reporter
HARARE giants Dynamos are set to hold a road show in Bulawayo on Saturday to drum up support for the highly anticipated Castle Lager Premiership clash with old foes Highlanders at Barbourfields.
The Glamour Boys, who have adopted Barbourfields as their home ground, will technically be the home team on Sunday.
The team is expected to fly to Bulawayo on Saturday and have a feel of the turf before the sparring. DeMbare will announce their arrival in Bulawayo with a road show to drum up support for the game. The club’s vice-chairman Vincent Chawonza yesterday said Dynamos have no problem hosting Bosso in their own background. It’s a curious scenario where DeMbare will be the home team away from home against their bitter rivals.
Chawonza said Dynamos are aiming at collecting maximum points. “Of course we respect Bosso as opponents but remember we have also adopted Barbourfields as our home ground. We will be at home and it will be sweet music for us beating Bosso there.
“The last time when we visited them there was no winner but this time around we have to get all the points. We haven’t forgotten they beat us in the Uhuru Cup, so we want revenge,” said Chawonza.
Highlanders currently sit on top of the table with 41 points. Dynamos are five points away from the summit after 21 games.
While Dynamos have lacked consistency and still managed to avoid defeat in their last five outings, Bosso go into the match on the back of two defeats on the bounce.
Highlanders, who had gone 19 games unbeaten suffered identical 2-0 defeats to FC Platinum and then Chicken Inn. Baltemar Brito’s side face their biggest rivals at a time they are still trying to reorganise themselves following the setbacks. But Chawonza, instead of anticipating a backlash, sees Bosso’s woes as a chance to pounce and reposition themselves in the championship race.
“This is a game that means a lot for us in the title race. If you have been following the events in the league, you can easily see that this is the biggest game for us this season.
“It’s like a final. In fact, we have the feeling that winning this game on Sunday is as good as winning the championship because of the stakes involved.
“A win means we cut the gap between us and Highlanders to two points, and we are back in the title race. That’s how big this game is.
“The big coincidence is that the other teams involved in the championship race, Manica Diamonds and Ngezi Platinum Stars will also play each other the same weekend.
“So this is a big opportunity for us. We cannot afford to ruin it,” said Chawonza.
Dynamos are also keen to end a six-year winless run against the Bulawayo giants. They last won a game against Highlanders in 2017 following a PSL Disciplinary Committee decision to award them a 3-0 walkover for the abandoned game at Barbourfields. But in open play, it was in 2015 when DeMbare claimed a 3-2 win at Rufaro.
“Statistics usually do not matter in such games,” said Chawonza. “I think we have done everything to psyche up our players. The players on their part, it’s clear they want to win this game. They are working hard in their preparations and will be flying to Bulawayo on Saturday. So, fatigue wise, we don’t expect any issues. “It’s a chance for the boys to shine. Remember we have a young squad and obviously scouts will be monitoring because this is a big game.
Fixtures:
Saturday: GreenFuel v Sheasham (GreenFuel Stadium), FC Platinum v CAPS United (Mandava), Ngezi Platinum Stars v Manica Diamonds (Baobab), Chicken Inn v Bulawayo Chiefs (Luveve), ZPC Kariba v Herentals (Nyamhunga), Black Rhinos v Triangle (Bata)
Sunday: Yadah v Cranborne Bullets (Baobab),Hwange v Simba Bhora (Colliery), Dynamos v Highlanders (Barbourfields)
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