Online Reporter
Innocent Kurira
ALL eyes will be on Barbourfields Stadium this Sunday as Highlanders lock horns with Simba Bhora in a high-stakes Premier Soccer League clash that drips with tension, history and unfinished business.
Their last meeting in the Chibuku Super Cup quarter-final ended in chaos after wild scenes and player protests. Now, both camps are praying for a match where football, not fury, takes centre stage.
Bosso coach, Kelvin Kaindu is choosing calm over conflict.
“We’ve seen an improvement in how games are being officiated this year. Referees are being held accountable. It gives us hope,” he said.
But it’s not just the referees under the spotlight. Kaindu’s men are wobbling. Three games without a win have dropped Highlanders to ninth on the table, a massive 11 points behind unbeaten leaders, MWOS.
The problem is goals. Or the lack of them. Combined with defensive blunders, Bosso’s dream start has faded fast.
Still, hope is on the horizon.
Key players return from international duty this week. Andrew Mbeba and Prince Ndlovu are back from Cosafa.
Junior Chiwheta rejoins the squad. Mason Mushore returns from Morocco. Even veteran shot-stopper Ariel Sibanda is back in training.
“It’s a big boost,” Kaindu admitted. “The timing couldn’t be better.”
On the other end, Simba Bhora arrive in second place, fired up by their title ambitions and driven by the familiar face of coach Joel “Dubai” Luphahla, a former Bosso star both on the field and in the dugout. This one’s personal.
“I won’t lie. There’s emotion. But the break was a challenge. Our game against Ngezi was poor mentally. We’ve worked on that,” Luphahla said.
The Shamva giants are eyeing Highlanders’ scalp, but they know Barbourfields is no easy hunting ground, especially with Bosso desperate to bounce back.
While the main event brews in Bulawayo, Week 15 of the PSL serves up more action.
On Saturday, GreenFuel face TelOne at the GreenFuel Arena, CAPS United host Chicken Inn at Rufaro, Ngezi Platinum welcome Manica Diamonds at Baobab, Bikita Minerals clash with Dynamos at Gibbo in a match that will be broadcast live on ZTN Prime, Yadah take on Herentals at Heart Stadium, and FC Platinum entertain ZPC Kariba at Mandava.
On Sunday, Scottland meet Kwekwe United at Rufaro and Triangle host table-topping MWOS at Gibbo, with that fixture also live on ZTN Prime. Highlanders vs Simba Bhora rounds off the weekend at Barbourfields Stadium.
Brace for fireworks. Bosso want redemption. Simba want revenge. Barbourfields will decide who gets what.
