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Eddie Chikamhi Sports Reporter
PREMIERSHIP giants Dynamos and Highlanders are set to renew their rivalries in back-to-back clashes following the postponement of their league match this coming weekend.
It means that, when they clash next weekend at Barbourfields, they will meet again the following weekend in the final of the Commander Zimbabwe National Army Charities Shield final at Rufaro on August 2.
The Premier Soccer League yesterday announced they were rescheduling fixtures to give support to the Young Warriors who host South Africa in the first leg of the Africa Under-23 Championship final qualifier at Rufaro this Sunday.
There is still some unfinished business between the country’s biggest football rivals after DeMbare edged Highlanders 3-2 in an explosive league match marred by a controversial refereeing decision.
Dynamos will now travel to Barbourfields on July 25 and then welcome the Bulawayo giants the following week for the Commander ZNA Charities final at Rufaro.
DeMbare coach David Mandigora is already looking forward to the duel.
“Every fixture is important. I mean there is no easy game in the league. So we just have to play Highlanders in Bulawayo. They came here and we beat them. So we are going there and we are looking forward to a positive result,” said Mandigora.
According to Alphios Makotore, who is also the Director Army Public Relations, the final of the ZNA Charities Shield has been slotted soon after the league clash and will be played on August 2.
Four teams took part in the charity tournament this year and DeMbare clinched the ticket courtesy of a 2-1 victory over CAPS United while Highlanders eliminated How Mine with an identical margin just before the start of the current season.
The two giants will be meeting for the first time in the final of the three-year-old tournament whose proceeds will go to support challenged members of the army and their dependants.
“Gate charges for the final match have been pegged at $3 for the rest of the ground, $5 for the Upper Western Stand and $10 for the VIP. Children will also be asked to pay $1 to watch the two giants in action,” said Makotore.
Both Dynamos and Highlanders continued to fire blanks in the league competition at the weekend after settling for goalless draws.
DeMbare were held by Hwange at Rufaro while Bosso celebrated a point away at Triangle in another barren match.
Mandigora was clearly not happy with his team’s performance after they failed to capitalise on the slip-up by log leaders Chicken Inn the previous day.
DeMbare dropped to fourth place on the log standings with 28 points, two behind Chicken Inn who, however, have a game in hand pending the determination of their abandoned match with Dongo Sawmill.
Chicken Inn played out a goalless draw with CAPS United on Saturday while second-placed Triangle were involved in another goalless match against Highlanders. Hwange winger Farai Vimisayi, who had a good game against his former team, said they needed to step up their game after recording their 10th draw in 16 starts.
“Dynamos on their part were more defensive. We played well and we were on top of the situation but we couldn’t take our chances.
“It was okay getting a point against Dynamos but I think the draws are becoming too many. We need to win games. “If you follow our performances you will see that the team is playing well but we are failing to convert the performances into wins.
“Sometimes we tend to concede easily when we get in good positions to win. Some of the things go down to issues to do with concentration. We definitely need to improve on that,” said Vimisayi.
Luke Masomere’s How Mine made the biggest gains when they beat Buffaloes 1-0 to move into third position, tied with Triangle on 29 points, one behind log leaders Chicken Inn.
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