admin
Peter Phiri Sports Correspondent
HIGHLANDERS Football Club take on a depleted Chicken Inn in a Castle Lager Premier Soccer League (PSL) match at Barbourfields Stadium today.
Missing from Chicken Inn will be key midfielder Thabani Goredema and dependable defender Moses Jackson through suspension.The duo has been key to Chicken Inn’s success this season and their absence may tip the match in Bosso’s favour.
It is a game both teams cannot afford to lose if they want to stay in the hunt for the league championship and bring the title to Bulawayo for the first time in seven years.
Highlanders need to consolidate their position by collecting another three points while Chicken Inn will be hopping to reduce the gap by defeating Bosso in front of their fans.
Highlanders are on top of the PSL log standings with 29 points from 13 games while Chicken Inn are fourth with 23 points from as many games and a win for the Gamecocks will see them reducing the gap to just three points.
A win for Bosso will take their points tally to 32 and they can still afford to maintain the top position even if they lose.
Being a derby, it is a game that can go either way and both coaches know what is expected of their players.
Highlanders coach Kelvin Kaindu has described the game as very important for his players because their opponents are a tricky customer who can rise to the occasion.
‘‘This is an important game for us and we respect our opponents very much. They are a good team with good players and the match being a mid-week derby will be very difficult for both sides.
“We just have to pray for the grace of God for us to prevail,’’ said Kaindu.
The Highlanders coach also pointed out that today’s game is about the players and the 90 minutes belong to them.
‘‘Derby matches are unpredictable since it is all about the players. Most of these players grew up together and have played with each other from the juniors.
“We are however looking forward to a good game,’’ he said.
Asked what game plan he has to plot Chicken Inn’s downfall, Kaindu said he would just focus on the game and mind Bosso’s business.
‘‘We don’t have a specific gameplan for a certain team but we just focus on the job at hand and play our own game,’’ he said.
Against Black Rhinos on Sunday a number of fringe players like Ozias Zibande, Bobby Nkomo, Mgcini Sibanda, Lucky Nyoni, Douglas Sibanda and goalkeeper Ashford Katsande started in the first team.
When quizzed if he would throw some of these players into the fray, Kaindu said it all depends on their current form.
‘‘Yes some fringe players did well on Sunday, but we will assess everyone in training. Those who do well during our training sessions will definitely play. It is about who is doing well in training,’’ he said.
In goals it will be a toss between Ariel Sibanda and Munyaradzi Diya while captain Innocent Mapuranga, Dumisani ‘‘Fazo’’ Ndlovu, Eric Mudzingwa, Bruce Kangwa and Simon Munawa are likely to marshal the defence for Bosso.
Peter “Rio” Moyo who had a good game on Sunday, Milton Ncube and Mthulisi Maphosa are expected to drive the midfield.
If Moyo reproduces the form that saw him running rings around the Black Rhinos defence then Chicken Inn will be in trouble.
Upfront Njabulo ‘‘Tshiki’’ Ncube, Masimba Mambare, Beavan Chikaka and most likely Ozias Zibande will fight for places.
Zibande had a good game on Sunday and scored the winning goal for Amahlolanyama.
Chicken Inn are however not taking this game lying down, and their coach Mandla ‘‘Lulu’’ Mpofu has warned Bosso that they must not expect any respect from them.
‘‘The match against Highlanders is like any other game although we have doubled our efforts in training. We have prepared well for this game and we are looking for a positive result. Last year we drew all our league games with Bosso but I cannot read much into that. Tomorrow’s (today) encounter is a different ball game altogether,’’ said Mpofu.
He also said Bosso should not expect much respect from Chicken Inn despite being a football giant and big brothers in the city.
‘‘Off the field yes we can respect them but on the field of play they should not expect any respect from us. As a team we want to win as much as they want to.
But this being a derby it is about the players and not the coaches. The coach is there to psyche up the players and the rest of the job is for players to do. There is nothing much the coaches can do. Of course we are missing our two key players Goredema and Jackson,’’ said Mpofu.
Chicken Inn will pin their hopes on dribbling wizard Kudakwashe Mahachi, leading goal scorer Tendai Ndoro, Guide Goddard and Zephania Ngodzo.
Elsewhere, Black Mambas play host to Shabanie Mine at Morris Depot, while former Cup Kings Caps United welcome Hwange FC at the National Sports Stadium.
Defending champions Dynamos face unpredictable Buffaloes at Sakubva and it will be a clash of new boys at Rimuka Stadium when Black Rhinos lock horns with Beitbridge-based Tripple B.
Fixtures
Today: Black Mambas v Shabanie Mine (Morris Depot), Highlanders v Chicken Inn (Barbourfields), Buffaloes v Dynamos (Sakubva), Black Rhinos v Tripple B (Rimuka), Caps United v Hwange (National Sports Stadium), Motor Action v FC Platinum (Motor Action)
Tomorrow: How Mine v Triangle (Luveve), Harare City v Monomotapa (Rufaro)
Online Reporter