Chronicle Editor
Ricky Zililo, Senior Sports Reporter
2019 Chibuku Super Cup champions Highlanders are throwing all their energy towards progressing to the quarter-finals of this year’s tournament and are hoping to claim the scalp of Triangle United away at Gibbo Stadium on Sunday.
Bosso, just like the 15 other premier soccer league teams that will be participating in the first round proper of the Chibuku Super Cup, are hoping to appease their followers by winning the tournament.
For the majority of clubs, save for ZPC Kariba and Whawha who participated in the preliminary round a fortnight ago, it will take four games to lift the Chibuku Super Cup, a cup competition that headlined yesteryear football calendars before being reintroduced in 2014.
Highlanders coach Baltermar Brito understands the tough assignment that lies ahead and before thinking about emulating a Hendrik Pieter DeJong, who led Bosso to the 2019 Chibuku Super Cup victory, the Portuguese expatriate is aware that to achieve success, they have to take a game at a time starting with Triangle.
“The cup competition normally gives hope to every team which believes it’s possible to win it. We’re going to Triangle thinking of passing to the next round before thinking of winning the cup. What’s important is winning this game and reaching the next round, taking it game at a time.
“We’ve studied their play and shown our players the images of what we need to do.
What we know is that they (Triangle) are a strong team that plays direct football, they’re physical and play well in their smaller ground than Barbourfields.
They have tall, speedy strikers and we’re going to avoid some of the situations they do and create something for us,” said Brito.
Bosso drew 0-0 with Triangle at Gibbo in the first leg of the 2021/22 championship.
Going to Triangle, Highlanders could ride on the history of having seven key players who featured prominently and even went on to win the 2019 Chibuku Super Cup.
Goalkeeper and skipper Ariel Sibanda, defenders Peter Muduhwa, Andrew Mbeba, as well as Mbongeni Ndlovu, midfielder Adrian Silla, Nqobizitha Masuku and player of the moment Godfrey Makaruse were part of the victorious squad.
On their road to winning the 2019 Chibuku Super Cup, Bosso knocked Dynamos out in the first round played in Harare, a statistic that gives them hope that they can get a victory on the road.
But Bosso should expect a tight encounter against a Jairo Tapera coached Triangle side that is also pressed for glory.
Chibuku Super Cup first round fixtures
Saturday, August 20: Chicken Inn v Harare City (Luveve), FC Platinum v Tenax CS FC (Mandava), Black Rhinos v Caps United (Vengere), Ngezi Platinum Stars v Herentals (Baobab)
Sunday, August 21: Bulawayo Chiefs v ZPC Kariba (Luveve), Manica Diamonds v Yadah (Vengere), Dynamos v Whawha (National Sports Stadium), Triangle United v Highlanders (Gibbo)
— @ZililoR
Online Reporter