Chronicle Editor
Fungai Muderere, Senior Sports Reporter
THE country’s longest-surviving football rivals Dynamos and Highlanders will this afternoon march into the cauldron of Rufaro Stadium in Harare to square off against each other in a Castle Lager Premier Soccer League (PSL) Week 18 showdown match that is expected to attract a full house.
The first match between the two teams is said to have been played in 1963, the Kunyongana Cup won by Highlanders 2-1. It is a game in which a pact was signed between the two sides that whoever has a player moving the other direction, the club will sign for the duration of the player’s stay if it is employment or allow to train with.
But years later the clubs have become bitter rivals with some of the matches fiercely contested on the pitch.
In this year’s first leg encounter at Barbourfields in Bulawayo, Bosso beat DeMbare 2-1 and today the Glamour Boys will be eager to avenge their heartbreak and pour some cold water over Highlanders’ hopes of a double over them.
This season’s first instalment between the two sides, was a dominant performance from Kelvin Kaindu’s men, limiting DeMbare to a second-fiddle performance.
Former Highlanders captain Gilbert “Gidza” Banda, who was the last skipper to lift the championship trophy for the Bulawayo football giants in 2006, says the team that will show better determination will walkout victorious at the ceremonial home of Zimbabwean football.
“As always that will be an exciting match, which I think players don’t need to be motivated by anyone but themselves, supporters will also play a big role in this match. As a result, I think the better team of the day, the team that will want it more will come out victorious,” said Banda in an interview from his base in South Africa.
In the build-up to the match chaos has punctuated the DeMbare camp but coach Genesis Mangombe put on a brave face.
Mangombe insists his charges are fit to face their traditional rivals, despite missing several days of training.
Mangombe believes the industrial action by players is now water under the bridge and what’s now important for the players is to prove they can play for Dynamos and grind out results.
“These are footballers and in the life of a footballer you need to be training all the time. And you need to stay fit. The players have been training throughout, although it has been individual and when you train individually there is no teamwork. But as far as fitness is concerned there are no issues.”
Dynamos are in position six, two points adrift of Highlanders who are a place above them.
“We are starting the second-half of the season with a crucial encounter. We want to turn the tables this time around. We lost at Barbourfields and this time we need to collect maximum points at Rufaro.
“The second-half of the season is always tricky, if you get it wrong in a game and lose points it will be difficult for you to be in the race for the championship. If you lose, the gap is going to widen and as a team, we will try to do our best in every game to make sure that we collect points and cover the gap with top teams,” he said.
The Harare giants have been largely inconsistent in the first-half of the season which saw them draw nine times.
Mangombe’s job has also been on the tenterhooks following Dynamos’ inconsistent run.
Kaindu refused to pay attention to Dynamos’ internal challenges and expects them to be at their best.
“If you look at the magnitude of this game, whether they are training or not, it is a game that everyone wants to come and watch and we are not dwelling much on that (the turmoil at Dynamos). We just want to focus on this game and remain positive,” he said.
With goalkeeper Raphael Pitisi doubtful and Andrew Tandi already ruled out, Bosso have been boosted by the return of left-back Archford Faira from the treatment room.
Another ex-Bosso defender Anzilom “Malume” Ndlovu said his former club should capitalise on their strengths of keeping the ball and playing a passing game.
“Highlanders have a strong team with very talented players that include Peter Muduhwa and Melikhaya Ncube. They can always lead the team and Bosso should capitalise on their strengths of keeping the ball and playing a passing game. I know if they do that and happen to get an opportunity they will strike.
“Considering that Dynamos will be at home they will definitely attack and will have the backing of their fans. They will move in numbers. There will be a lot of tension but football must be the winner. I’m predicting a 2-1 win for Bosso and considering that it will be a tight match, Bosso will probably convert one of their goals from a set piece,” said Ndlovu. — @FungaiMuderere.
Bongani Ndlovu