Eye of a Tiger: Tsholotsho confident ahead of Bosso duel

Raymond Jaravaza
ITaï¿½ï¿½S each man for himself and good luck to the best team when Erol Akbay meets Lizwe Sweswe in a match both men have declared a aï¿½?no favours affairaï¿½ï¿½ at Barbourfields Stadium on Saturday.

Akbay and Sweswe might be neighbours by virtue of being at the helm of Bulawayo-based teams but the neighbourly love will certainly be forgotten for 90 minutes.

Sweswe is literally staring down the barrel of a gun and knows a defeat will send Tsholotsho FC closer to relegation.
aï¿½?Indoda lendoda iyaziphandela (itaï¿½ï¿½s each man for himself).

Iaï¿½ï¿½m fighting my own battle while the Highlanders coach is also fighting his own war.Aï¿½ There will be no favours on Saturday,aï¿½? said Sweswe during the week.

His camp is injury free. Sweswe also believes the Chibuku Super Cup break gave his players a much needed rest.
aï¿½?It wasnaï¿½ï¿½t really an industrial action, the boys simply asked the management to sort out their outstanding salaries. In fact the break worked in our favour because part of training also includes a good rest,aï¿½? he said in reference to a week-long strike by Tsholotsho FC players.
aï¿½?Itaï¿½ï¿½s a tight race for the top three teams so Highlanders will not be doing any team favours. As a coach I only do what is best for my team,aï¿½? said Akbay.
Most memorable comebacks:
Bosso: Aï¿½Aï¿½ Aï¿½The day the Bulawayo giants completed a double over arch rivals Dynamos they did it in remarkable style coming from 1-0 down to score two quick goals in a space of three minutes to record the historic victory in September at Barbourfields Stadium.
Iziqholo:Aï¿½ The 2016 season has been a tough one for Tsholotsho FC on all accounts from poor results to industrial action by players demanding unpaid salaries. However, Lizwe Sweswe and his men deserve the most memorable comeback award of the season when they came back from three goals down in the first half to force a 3-3 draw against Mutare City Rovers at Sakubva Stadium in August.
Highest score lines:
Bosso:Aï¿½Aï¿½ To date Highlanders is still yet to score four goals in a single match since thrashing Ngezi 4-1 at Baobab Stadium in May. On the day Prince Dube grabbed a brace while Eric Mudzingwa and Rahman Kutsanzira contributed a goal each.
Iziqholo: 16 July at Luveve Stadium Tsholotsho FC shocked Hwange with a 3-0 thumping of the coalminers on an afternoon that Mostafa Ponyera scored twice and Blessing Sibanda added another.
Top goal scorers:
Bosso:Aï¿½ Prince Dube and Simon Munawa both on five goals will certainly be eyeing the top goal scorer award when Highlanders rewards its most outstanding players on 2 December. They just have to beat departed Bruce Kangwaaï¿½ï¿½s seven goals.
Iziqholo: MacClive Phiri is the leading goal scorer for Tsholotsho with three goals.
Meanwhile, the Premier Soccer League has confirmed that three players are suspended for this weekend round of fixtures after picking up three yellow cards each in previous games.
Gilbert Zulu of Hwange will not travel to Ngezi Platinum while Hardlife Mavundi of Triangle United will miss the Border Strikers encounter in Beitbridge on Sunday.
Zibusiso Sibanda will watch his Bulawayo City FC teammates from the terraces when the local municipality owned club plays ZPC Kariba at Barbourfields Stadium on Sunday.
Fixtures
Saturday: Harare City v Caps United (Rufaro), Ngezi Platinum Stars v Hwange (Baobab), Chapungu v FC Platinum (Ascot), Highlanders v Tsholotsho FC (Barbourfields)
Sunday: Border Strikers v Triangle United (Dulivhadzimu), Dynamos v Mutare City (Rufaro), How Mine v Chicken Inn (Luveve), Bulawayo City v ZPC Kariba (Barbourfields).