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Ray Bande
Senior Reporter
CASTLE Lager Premiership side, Manica Diamonds, is expecting nothing short of an intimidating atmosphere when they make the long trip to Bulawayo for a date against log leaders, Highlanders at Barbourfields Stadium on Sunday.
While most of the country’s top-flight league football match venues have not attracted huge crowds, with privilege card holders almost filling up the VIP sections, Barbourfields Stadium in Bulawayo, affectionately known as Emagumeni, has seen multitudes of fans gathering each time Highlanders are at home.
The carnival atmosphere that Highlanders supporters always create each time their team is playing at home has been an envy of many clubs in the Premiership teams, in a league that has lost much of its support base over the years to a number of counter attractions such as the English Premiership.
Sunday will most probably be no exception when Manica Diamonds troop into Barbourfields Stadium for a potentially explosive top of the table clash, pitting the log leaders against the third placed Mutare-based outfit.
And the Gem Boys coach, JairosTapera, knows that.
“Yes, sure we all know very well how intimidating the atmosphere at Barbourfields Stadium is, but we will address that with my players. They should expect that and be ready,” said the former Young Warriors, Triangle and FC Platinum coach, who will be leading an equally competitive side that is sitting on position three with 26 points, just five behind log leaders, Bosso.
That difference in points and positions on the log standings places into context the fiery battle for superiority that is highly likely to play out on Sunday in Bulawayo.
Highlanders are enjoying an inspiring run that has seen them go for 15 matches unbeaten, with their latest victims being Herentals FC.
Typical of Tapera, he will never set high expectations for himself and his club, thus he refused to declare that his team could be the first to break Highlanders’ unbeaten run.
“It is difficult to predict the outcome of that match, but we will put up the same performance from the previous games and see how we will come out of that match,” he said.
Sadly, for Tapera and his team, their trusted gunslinger, Fortune Binzi will be out of action as he is nursing an injury on his right hand, sustained a fortnight ago.
Added to their injury list is midfielder, Liberty Chakoroma.
“We are preparing very well, unfortunately minus our top goal scorer, Fortune Binzi and our captain, Liberty Chakoroma. I believe every player in the team has the capacity to carry us through when given a chance, hence the absence of Chakoroma and Binzi, will be felt, but contained,” he said.
The soft-spoken Manica Diamonds gaffer, said they have respect for Highlanders, but will not read too much into their status, neither their unbeaten run.
“We have enough respect to Highlanders coach, Baltemar Brito and their team, given that they are doing very well by introducing young and talented players.
“They have not lost a game this year and it tells a lot about their performance, but we are in the same competition and we will go there with our heads high from our last four matches results. We will fight for positive results,” he said.
Online Reporter