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AFTER suffering five straight defeats, Highlanders will not underestimate bottom of the log placed side Chiredzi when the two teams meet in a Castle Lager Premier Soccer League match at Hartsfield Rugby Ground in Bulawayo tomorrow.
Highlanders have in recent weeks turned from championships contenders to a team that is just fighting for survival. The former Zimbabwean football champions have been on a free fall, sliding down the log with teams like Hwange, FC Platinum and Chicken Inn that were behind having gone above them on the log.
Since their 3-1 home loss to ZPC Kariba at the end of September, which saw the club part ways with their Zambian coach Kelvin Kaindu, Highlanders have become whipping boys with heavy defeats to Caps United, Hwange and a narrow loss to fellow Bulawayo side Chicken Inn last Sunday. They were also booted out at the semi-final stage in the Chibuku Super Cup by Harare City who hammered Bosso 3-0 at Rufaro Stadium. Even the presence of outspoken former Highlanders coach Cosmas “Tsano” Zulu who has been engaged as a technical advisor has not changed the team’s fortunes with things getting worse every match.
Mark Mathe, the Highlanders caretaker coach pointed out that they were not going to underrate Chiredzi despite that the Lowveld side is stuck at to the bottom of the log with a mere 15 points and sure to be relegated at conclusion of the season.
“We are working hard, we are trying by all means to psych up the players. We are looking for a strong finish to the season, starting with a win over Chiredzi. We need three points but we are not taking Chiredzi lightly because they have nothing to lose, they are a formidable side with a good coach in Gishon Ntini so we can’t rest on our laurels,’’ said Mathe.
The Highlanders caretaker coach asked the club’s hard to please fans to have patience with the team as he believes the boys have been displaying some positive play. Mathe conceded that they were in an unfamiliar position and were looking to end the season on a high note.
Highlanders might be boosted by the imminent availability of speedy forward Gabriel Nyoni who has been sidelined by injury, the latest picked up on national duty when he was the national Under-23 in Swaziland.
Nyoni, if he is deemed fully fit to run on will surely add some firepower to the Highlanders strikeforce that has become blunt in the second half of the season.
Another player expected to feature for Bosso is lanky forward Charles Sibanda who was left out of the team which made the trip to Hwange during the mid-week after he headed straight to the changing room, changed and went to sit in the crowd after being substituted in the second half against Chicken Inn. Sibanda, the league’s leading top goal scorer with 12 goals to his name, one goal ahead of How Mine striker Kudakwashe Musharu has been stuck on that mark since his last league goal for Highlanders on 24 August against FC Platinum at Mandava Stadium.
Mathe said no one was guaranteed to play and Sibanda just like any other player training with the team stands a chance of being selected.
“He is part and parcel of the team, he is trying like everyone else, no one is guaranteed a place in the team. We still have other training sessions and the team will be determined by the kind of game plan we want to employ against Chiredzi,’’ outlined Mathe.
It is yet to be seen if Highlanders will recall skipper Ariel Sibanda who has not kept goals in the last two matches with Munyaradzi Diya in between the sticks against Chicken Inn and Hwange.
The Highlanders defence has been leaking goals during the second half of the season and is clearly the biggest weakness for the team. Honest Moyo, Innocent Mapuranga, Dumisani Ndlovu and Simon Munawa are expected to make up the Bosso rearguard. Felix Chindungwe has been outstanding since being shifted to the defensive link and with the likes of Mthulisi Maphosa, Rahman Kutsanzira, Hillary Madzivanyika, Welcome Ndiweni, Knox Mutizwa, Tapiwa Dephistara as well as Bruce Kangwa would be fighting it out for slots in the starting line up in midfield.
Kudzanai Machazani, Ozias Zibande, Charles Sibanda and Nyoni are some of the available options upfront for Mathe.
Highlanders still have to do without the injured Njabulo Ncube, Simba Sithole, Webster Chingodza and Erick Mudzingwa.
In matches set for this afternoon, Buffaloes welcome Caps United to Sakubva Stadium in Mutare, Triangle entertain Hwange at Gibbo Stadium, defending champions Dynamos have what seems like an easy task against Bantu Rovers at Rufaro, Black Rhinos take on Shabanie Mine while How Mine clash with Chapungu home away from home at Mandava Stadium.
The non-availability of Hartsfield Rugby Ground forced the PSL to tweak the fixtures programme. How Mine were scheduled to play Chapungu at the rugby facility yesterday but with the venue hosting a Summer Series sevens rugby tournament on its main field, Chikurupati will now play the match in Zvishavane this afternoon. Also affected is the Highlanders encounter against Chiredzi which was supposed to be played this afternoon but Hartsfield has been hired for a musical show today with the booking understood to have been done in advance and as a matter of principle the Matabeleland Rugby Football Board, custodians of the venue decided not to give any preference to soccer.
Fixtures
Today
Buffaloes v Caps United (Sakubva Stadium), Triangle v Hwange (Gibbo Stadium), Dynamos v Bantu Rovers (Rufaro Stadium), Black Rhinos v Shabanie Mine (Rimuka Stadium), How Mine v Chapungu (Mandava Stadium)
Tomorrow:
Highlanders v Chiredzi (Hartsfield Rugby Ground).
Online Reporter