adminMugove Chigada Sports Reporter
WHEN Harare City destroyed Highlanders 4-0 at Rufaro last year, with a blitkrieg that the Bosso defence couldn’t handle, it destroyed the Bulawayo giants’ dreams of winning their first league championship in seven years.Silas Songani, the conductor of that orchestra on an unforgettable afternoon for the Sunshine City Boys, has since left their ranks, and the country, to settle in Denmark where he has begun a career as professional at a higher level.
But Nathan Ziwini, his partner in the destruction, remains. That victory over Bosso put City into pole position, to win their first league title, and all they needed was to win their last game against CAPS United and secure the biggest crown in domestic football.
Of course, history will record that City collapsed, on the final hurdle, after a 2-2 draw against an inspired Makepekepe and Dynamos smuggled their way onto the victory parade to win their third straight league championship under Callisto Pasuwa.
Bosso, too, came short despite an impressive final day win over Shabanie at Barbourfields and it meant that, for the second year running, Kelvin Kaindu would finish the season with the silver medal despite ending the campaign with the same number of points as the champions.
Harare City chairman, Leslie Gwindi, told ZBC’s live weekly football magazine programme, Game Plan, on Monday that his charges froze on the big stage and choked with the finish line in sight.
But Gwindi said they had learnt their lessons the hard way and the country will see a fresh, confident and exciting Harare City campaign for honours this year, beginning with the Bob@90 Super Cup elimination match against Highlanders at Barbourfields tomorrow.
Harare City have strengthened their coaching staff by bringing in the experienced David George as assistant to head coach Bigboy Mawiwi who said the match against Bosso presents him with an opportunity to assess the squad he has assembled for this season.
Both Highlanders and Harare City have been rebuilding their squad during the off-season with the aim of snatching the championship from Dynamos who are already in the final of the Bob@90 Super Cup.
Over the last few days, Highlanders have unveiled Felix Chindungwe, Kuda Mahachi, Charles Sibanda, Joel Ngodzo and Rahman Kutsanzira and there was also activity at the Sunshine City boys camp where the recruited eight players.
One Harare City’s most prized acquisition Misheck Mburayi, a former Highlanders player, was hours away from returning to Bulawayo before Mawiwi made a call that changed the player’s mind.
“When I talked to him over the phone, he was about to travel to Bulawayo and I was well aware that a number of clubs were targeting him,” said Mawiwi.
“I know for certain that Chicken Inn were very keen on the striker and Highlanders were also interested, as I’m made to believe.
“So after calling him, I managed to convince him to stay in Harare after telling him of our plans as a club. I am glad he understood we are a serious club that is very ambitious. So, eventually, he didn’t travel like he had planned.”
Mburayi’s exploits at Motor Action, in the first half of the season, and later at Triangle, made him a key target for a number clubs.
“We are travelling with the whole team tomorrow (today) and everyone has a chance to be in the final 18, including the eight new players that we unveiled. I have no injury worries,” said Mawiwi.
“We will not rely on one player. But there is no doubt he (Mburayi) is such good striker. I have been monitoring him for a very long time and I know exactly what he is capable of doing.
“We are still building a team and this Highlanders game comes at a very crucial stage. Now we can test how much ground we have covered.”
Mawiwi said although they could be having the bragging rights after their previous win he believes they have to be at their best to get a result.
“This will be another game and we should really not dwell into the past. We are not under any pressure, going into the game, but it is actually an exciting challenge for us,” he said.
Kaindu was not on the bench when his team collapsed at Rufaro in November and is hoping for a change of fortunes.
“Obviously, Harare City are one of the strong sides around. It will help us a lot ahead of the new season,” said Kaindu. “This game is important in terms of the fact that it is a competition and also in that it helps the team to get into better condition in terms of fitness.
“This will be a new challenge and obviously a different approach to it.”
Online Reporter