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The league debutants were drubbed 6-0 when they played DeMbare in a friendly.
The Luveve match is one of the five league matches set for today with the other three taking place tomorrow before the full league fixtures programme for the weekend.
Bulawayo giants and log leaders left the City of Kings yesterday for a clash with Gunners at Larfarge Stadium this afternoon with star midfielder, Mthulisi Maphosa declaring on his Facebook post:
“This time we are taking everything by force.”
Highlanders have not won in 270 minutes of football and in the process dropped six points. They however, remain on top of the log and are three points clear with a game in hand.
Maphosa though, according to team doctor Xolani Ndlovu, might have a cameo role for the team today due to an injury as the technical bench led by Kelvin Kaindu rests him for the Battle of the Cities clash against Caps United at Barbourfields Stadium on Sunday.
All roads though lead to Luveve Stadium this afternoon where 2011 Castle Lager Premiership champions Dynamos make their second visit to the second largest city in the country after their Independence Cup third place play-off against Hwange at White City Stadium.
Reports from the Quelaton camp indicate that some lucrative financial packages have been promised to the boys for a win. Club owner Tawanda Ruzive confirmed the development but said he was not at liberty to disclose the exact package.
“It’s obviously a big game for the boys which can positively or negatively affect them depending on how we handle it, especially at the back of that 6-0 defeat in a friendly which they suffered before season kick off,” said Quelaton coach Philani “Beefy” Ncube yesterday.
Ncube said he was personally worried when people say the team is now playing good football yet goals continue to elude them.
“Like I have always said, we are on a survival mission as Quelaton and if I had to have it my way, we could have a two-week break so as to properly prepare the boys for this mission because I don’t think they had the best of preparations,” said the former Coach of the Year with Njube Sundowns.
The Ruzive-owned outfit have indeed been playing well but it’s the final move in their final third that have been their biggest undoing.
In skipper Innocent Kutsanzira, former Highlanders midfielder Marshal Machazane and Proud Zireni, formerly with Bantu Rovers, Kwela Kwela have the necessary arsenal to beat DeMbare today.
Meanwhile, in Zvishavane it’s a Midlands derby number three between hosts FC Platinum and Hardbody at Mandava Stadium in a match which both teams just have to win for different reasons.
FC Platinum need to win to remain within sight of Highlanders while Tavaka Gumbo’s Hardbody is staring relegation in the face. Last weekend both teams lost, FC Platinum going down 2-0 to Monomotapa while troubled Hardbody gave Blue Rangers their first win of the season, losing 1-0 at home.
Fixtures
Today: Quelaton v Dynamos (Luveve Stadium); Gunners v Highlanders (Larfarge Stadium); CAPS United v Black Mambas (National Sports Stadium); Blue Rangers v Buffaloes (Gwanzura Stadium); FC Platinum v Hardbody (Mandava Stadium).
Tomorrow: Motor Action v Shabanie Mine (Motor Action Sports); Chicken Inn v Monomotapa (Luveve Stadium); Harare City v Hwange (Rufaro Stadium).
Online Reporter