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The country’s most followed clubs, Dynamos and Highlanders will lock horns in an epic Castle Lager Premier Soccer league battle at Rufaro Stadium on Sunday.
The outcome of the weekend encounter will decide the title destiny as the two giants are neck-on-neck in the log standings.
Dynamos are at the top of the log with 58 points, two ahead of Highlanders having both played 25 matches.
A win for the Bulawayo giants will see them topple DeMbare at the top of the log and enjoying a point lead.
A victory for the Harare giants will dent Highlanders’ championship hopes as they will be left trailing Dynamos by five points.
The difference in points will remain two in the event of a draw.
History favours the Glamour Boys to collect maximum points as they last lost to Bosso at Rufaro Stadium in 2006.
Then the Bulawayo giants were under the tutelage of Methembe Ndlovu and it was the same year that they last won the championship.
On Sunday, the two giants will be meeting in the league for the 24th time since 2001. Dynamos has won nine encounters, drawing the same number of games and losing five in their 23 games.
For Bosso, winning on Sunday will be like killing two birds with one stone as they will break the jinx and probably put themselves in a driving seat in as far as the championship race is concerned.
In 2006 Highlanders beat Dynamos 1-0 in Harare and wrapped up their campaign with a 2-0 home win.
Then they had the likes of Vusa Nyoni, Danisa Phiri, Obadiah Tarumbwa, Honour Gombami and Gilbert Banda among other stars.
The following season Dynamos beat Highlanders 2-1 at Barbourfields Stadium before the two clubs went on to share the spoils in Harare. DeMbare went on to win the championship.
This time around both teams are in the running for the title, with Monomotapa the 2008 champions a distant third.
Both Dynamos and Highlanders watched helplessly as “small teams” won the championships in 2008 (Monomotapa), Gunners in 2009 and Motor Action in 2010.
Dynamos’ biggest win over Bosso in a league match in their last 23 encounters was in 2009 when the Harare giants clobbered Highlanders 4-0 at Rufaro Stadium.
In that match Cuthbert Malajila scored a hattrick with Philip Marufu getting the other goal.
If Highlanders take along their scoring boots, then they can surprise DeMbare but that seems to be a tall order for the Bulawayo club who have taken a dip in form.
Highlanders coach Kelvin Kaindu is hopeful of putting an end to Dynamos’ dominance.
“I think this season there is a lot that the team has done which can make us beat them. Obviously God has been on our side and by faith, the same God who has guided us to where we are can give us an edge over Dynamos on Sunday,” said Kaindu.
Bosso will bank on veterans Innocent Mapuranga, Mthulisi Maphosa, Bhekimpilo Ncube and the dependable Eric Mudzingwa.
Other players expected to carry the day for the Bulawayo giants include national team goalkeeper Ariel Sibanda, Simon“Yola” Munawa, Bruce Kangwa, Peter “Rio” Moyo, striker Cleopas “Balloteli” Dube, Heritein Masuku and Lawson Nkomo.
Dynamos on the other end have the likes of Murape Murape, Roderick Mutuma, Tawanda Muparati, Denver Mukamba, goalkeeper George Chigova, David Kutyauripo and Desmond Maringwa to carry the day for them.
Meanwhile, Chicken Inn who are targeting a top four finish travel to Zvishavane for a tricky date with FC Platinum while relegated Quelaton are at home to Harare City at Luveve Stadium on Saturday.
Hwange continue with their fight for survival with an away tie against tricky Buffaloes in Mutare on Sunday hoping to bring home maximum points.
The coalminers are hard-pressed for a win if they are to survive the chop. Should they lose and Blue Rangers beat Motor Action, Chipangano will move a place down the ladder to fourth from the bottom.
Defender Gerald Ndlovu, Gilbert Zulu, striker Francesco Zekumbawire, Ocean Mpofu and David Boriwondo are some of the players likely to feature in the Hwange line-up.
Another relegation threatened club, Hardbody plays host to Shabanie Mine at Ascot Stadium in Gweru.
Highlanders-Dynamos Stats
2001: Highlanders 1, Dynamos 1 (Bulawayo), Dynamos 0, Highlanders 1 (Harare)
2002: Dynamos 0, Highlanders 0 (Harare), Highlanders 0, Dynamos 1 (Bulawayo)
2003: Highlanders 0, Dynamos 3 (Bulawayo), Dynamos 2, Highlanders 0 (Harare)
2004: Highlanders 2, Dynamos 1 (Bulawayo), Dynamos 0, Highlanders 1 (Harare)
2005: Dynamos 0, Highlanders 0 (Harare), Highlanders 1, Dynamos 1 (Bulawayo)
2006: Dynamos 0, Highlanders 1 (Harare), Highlanders 2, Dynamos 1 (Bulawayo)
2007: Highlanders 1, Dynamos 2 (Bulawayo), Dynamos 0, Highlanders 0 (Harare)
2008: Highlanders 1, Dynamos 1 (Bulawayo), Dynamos 1, Highlanders 1 (Harare)
2009: Dynamos 4, Highlanders 0 (Harare), Highlanders 0, Dynamos 1 (Bulawayo)
2010: Dynamos 1, Highlanders 0 (Harare), Highlanders 0, Dynamos 3 (Bulawayo, after disciplinary hearing. Match had been abandoned due to crowd violence with Dynamos leading 2-1)
2011: Highlanders 0, Dynamos 0 (Bulawayo), Dynamos 3, Highlanders 1 (Harare)
2012: Highlanders 1, Dynamos 1 (Bulawayo)
Log
P W D L Pts
Dynamos 23 9 9 5 36
Highlanders 23 5 9 8 24
Fixtures
Saturday: Quelaton v Harare City (Luveve), Monomotapa v Black Mambas (Rufaro), Blue Rangers v Motor Action (Gwanzura), FC Platinum v Chicken Inn (Mandava)
Sunday: Dynamos v Highlanders (Rufaro), Hardbody v Shabanie Mine (Ascot), Buffaloes v Hwange (Sakubva), Caps United v Gunners (Gwanzura)
Online Reporter