Online Reporter
Innocent Kurira, [email protected]
HIGHLANDERS will be looking to continue their resurgence under coach Benjani Mwaruwari when they host Simba Bhora at Barbourfields Stadium on Sunday, but standing in their way is an opponent that has proven to be one of their toughest in recent seasons.
Since Simba Bhora’s promotion to the Premier Soccer League, Bosso have struggled to assert themselves against the Shamva-based side. Sunday’s encounter will be the eighth meeting between the two clubs and the statistics heavily favour the visitors.
In the previous seven meetings, Simba Bhora have won three times while Highlanders have managed just a single victory, with the remaining three matches ending in draws. It is a record Mwaruwari’s men will be eager to improve as they look to maintain their charge up the league table.
Highlanders head into the fixture full of confidence after a hard-fought 2-1 victory over MWOS, a result that underlined the remarkable improvement they have shown in recent weeks.
The Bulawayo giants have revived hopes of finishing the season strongly after a sluggish start to the campaign. They currently occupy sixth position on the table with 32 points, five ahead of ninth-placed Simba Bhora.
The transformation under Mwaruwari has been impressive. Highlanders collected just 11 points from their opening 10 league matches, winning once, drawing eight times and losing once. Goals were also difficult to come by, with Bosso failing to score in five of those matches, including the first meeting against Simba Bhora.
However, the second half of the campaign has painted a completely different picture. Bosso have amassed 21 points from their last 10 outings, winning six, drawing three and losing only once. Only league leaders Scottland have accumulated more points during that period.
Their attacking play has also improved significantly, with Highlanders drawing blanks only three times in the last 10 matches compared to five in the opening half of the season. Adding further intrigue to Sunday’s contest is the return of Simba Bhora coach Mandla Mpofu and his assistant Philani Mabhena to Barbourfields. The pair previously served on Highlanders’ technical bench and know the club inside out, adding another fascinating subplot to what is expected to be a fiercely contested encounter.
Simba Bhora will also arrive with the question of confidence after suffering a 2-1 defeat to FC Hunters in their last outing. They have consistently shown they can frustrate Highlanders and will be eager to complete another positive result against a side they have largely dominated in recent meetings.
For Highlanders, however, Sunday presents more than just an opportunity to collect three valuable points. It is a chance to erase an unwanted record against Simba Bhora and provide further evidence that Mwaruwari’s rebuilding project is gathering serious momentum.
With Bosso rediscovering their scoring touch and Simba Bhora eager to reassert their dominance in this fixture, another engrossing chapter in this growing rivalry awaits at Barbourfields.
Matchday 21 Fixtures
Saturday: Bulawayo Chiefs v MWOS (Luveve Stadium), TelOne v FC Platinum (Ascot Stadium), Hunters v Scotlland (Rufaro Stadium) Ngezi Platinum Stars v Chicken Inn (Baobab Stadium)
Sunday: Hardrock v CAPS United (Chahwanda Stadium), Manica Diamonds v ZPC Kariba (Sakubva Stadium), Triangle v Herentals College (Gibbo Stadium), Highlanders v Simba Bhora (Barbourfields Stadium) Dynamos v Agama (Rufaro Stadium).
