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Sikhumbuzo Moyo, Senior Sports Reporter
HIGHLANDERS will be hoping their Easycall Cup quarter-final opponents, FC Platinum’s dreams to take the league championship will result in them not putting much effort when when the two sides clash at Mandava Stadium in Zvishavane tomorrow.
FC Platinum are just two points behind log leaders Chicken Inn with 270 minutes of football remaining. In the event they win the championship, it will be their first since their grand entry into the Premier Soccer League in 2011.
Highlanders on the other hand are going through their worst run in recent history and are likely to go all out in a bid to soothe a pain-filled season by winning the cup.
Amini Soma-Phiri’s boys will be buoyed by the fact that they have generally performed well at Mandava and are playing against a side that is trying to kill two birds with one stone.
FC Platinum coach Norman Mapeza might also be tempted to rest some of his key players in tomorrow’s game to avoid injuries in preparation for the final league onslaught.
Very little is known of the Highlanders’ camp ahead of their trip to Zvishavane after interim technical advisor Cosmos Zulu refused to shed any light on the team.
However, changes are likely to occur in the starting line-up that did duty against Buffaloes where Tendai Ngulube was thrown into central defence to partner Erick Mudzingwa. It was only the tactical “benevolence” of Buffaloes coach Saul Chaminuka, who failed to take advantage of the jittery Bosso central defence.
With hard running striker like Obrey Chirwa and dribbling menace Marshal Mudehwe, Bosso need alert defenders if they hope to advance to the semi-finals.
In today’s fixtures, Hwange take on Caps United at the National Sports Stadium while Chicken Inn head to Nyamhunga Stadium for a date with ZPC Kariba.
Hwange believe their trophy cabinet has been empty for too long and are hoping their fortunes will change in this competition.
Chicken Inn coach Joe Antipas indicated that he could throw in fringe players and a few juniors as his priority is Premiership title.
Chicken Inn will play three games inside a week and Antipas feels that will be too taxing for his boys, especially during this crucial stage of the season.
Chipangano’s assistant coach Mebelo Njekwa said they will play their best team when they meet Caps United.
Caps United have also declared their intention of ending the season in style by winning the cup.
Easycall Cup fixtures
Today: ZPC Kariba v Chicken Inn (Nyamhunga), Caps United v Hwange (National Sports Stadium)
Tomorrow: FC Platinum v Highlanders (Mandava), Dynamos v How Mine (Rufaro)
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