admin
Bosso would obviously want to maintain their home record over Blue Rangers who they beat 1-0 at Emagumeni last season.
For them to achieve this, Highlanders’ strikers should be goal hungry and be on the offensive from the first whistle.
Graham Ncube, who was the club’s top goal scorer with eight goals, is expected to partner either Masimba Mambare or Beaven Chikaka upfront.
Kaindu said he spent the week working on his strikers’ finishing and was confident that they will win tomorrow.
“I think the final third is coming up as evidenced by the team’s performance against Chapungu. We created a number of chances but failed to convert. We have been busy working on our finishing and our wing play. I want my wingers to cross the ball into the box and during the week those are some of the things that we worked on,” he said.
Kaindu urged Highlanders supporters to come and rally behind the team which he said was ready for the battle.
Blue Rangers have parted ways with Misheck Chidzambwa and this time they come to Bulawayo without James Jam, Cabby Kamhapa and Daniel Kamunhenga.
The Harare club got dribbling wizard Norest Mkwezaramba on loan from Caps United, sealed a two-year deal with former Shooting Stars’ Tigere Muparagada and also got the Kiglon duo of Paul Marazanya and Seepa Maponga.
However, they should brace for an intimidating reception at Barbourfields as Highlanders’ followers are expected to come in their numbers to see their team’s opening game.
Zambian expatriate Kaindu is likely to field his new signings Mthulisi Maphosa, Bhekimpilo Ncube and Mambare.
New captain Innocent Mapuranga will lead the team from the back, providing cover for Ariel Sibanda.
Defender Lawson Nkomo is back from injury and was up and running at Thursday’s training. He is competing for a starting place against Atlast
Musasa who has been playing on the right side of defence during pre-season matches.
Kaindu is spoilt for choice in midfield where he has Maphosa, Eric Mudzingwa, Simon Munawa, Graham Ncube, Milton Ncube, Heritein Masuku and Knox Mutizwa who all can deliver.
While Highlanders has a clean bill of health, Chicken Inn will be without four key players for their Castle Lager Premier Soccer League season’s opener against Gunners at Luveve Stadium this afternoon.
The fastfood outlets sponsored club who are in their second season in top-flight action will start their campaign without tough-as-teak defender Herbert Dick, Felix Chindungwe and midfielders Thabani Goredema and Mlamuli Phakathi who are all injured.
Despite the setback, former Warriors striker Adam Ndlovu, who is Chicken Inn’s head coach, said he had equally good players to stand in for the quartet.
He said his charges were ready to fly past Gunners today who they beat 1-0 in their last clash in Harare.
The ambitious Bulawayo club has a squad made up of experienced stars and youngsters and Ndlovu trusts that they will carry the team’s hopes this season.
“We have a fairly good side made up of mostly young players. Everyone is looking forward to the game. We have been working hard and I am confident that we are going to get a good result tomorrow.
“The only setback that we have is that of our injured players Thabani, Phakathi, Chindungwe and Dick. These guys are an integral part of our team and we are going to miss them in our game. We registered 30 players and I have faith in my players,” Ndlovu said.
Guide Goddard and Moses Jackson who came from Hardbody last season are likely to partner in central defence with new signings ex-Highlanders striker
Abraham Mbaiwa who was playing at the back at Zimbabwe Saints last season and Northlea High School student Patrick Majuta fighting for a starting place on the right side of defence.
Brian Mbiriri is expected to complete the defence line-up.
Veteran goalkeeper Njabulo Nyoni who once turned out for Highlanders and Zimbabwe Saints faces stiff challenge for a starting place from former Under-23 shotstopper Liberty Chirava.
In the absence of Phakathi and Goredema, Chicken Inn have Danny ‘Deco’ Phiri, Xolisani Moyo, Tendai Ndoro and Canaan Nkomo as their midfielders from last season.
Ndlovu, the former national team striker whose career saw him play in Europe and South Africa, brought in 18-year-old Humphrey ‘Muchichwa’ Ncube who is the son of ex-Kaizer Chiefs and Zimbabwe international Rabson Muchichwa from Zim Leopards and Makhosi Ncube from New West City to beef up his midfield.
Gunners should be wary of Chicken Inn’s strikers Evans Chikwayikwayi, Thomas Chimenya, Daniel Zokoto or Leanance Mpofu.
During the off season, Gunners roped in William Manondo from FC Platinum and Blessing Sande from Hwange in a move meant to replace the players they lost.
Gunners are likely to build their team around Soccer Star of the Year finalist Cliff Sekete who had a brilliant 2011 season.
Meanwhile, new boys Quelaton will take on Hwange at the Colliery Stadium this afternoon.
Tomorrow afternoon Dynamos will play host to new boys Hardbody at Rufaro Stadium. A baptism of fire awaits the Gweru minnows who will be playing their first Premiership match. Dynamos who are the reigning champions are veterans who have been in the game since 1963.
They have a balanced and experienced team that could take advantage of Tavaka Gumbo’s rookies.
Fixtures
Today: Black Mambas v FC Platinum (Morris Depot), Motor Action v Harare City (Motor Action), Hwange v Quelaton (Colliery Stadium), Chicken Inn v Gunners (Luveve)
Tomorrow: Highlanders v Blue Rangers (Barbourfields), Dynamos v Hardbody (Rufaro), Shabanie Mine v Caps United (Maglas), Buffaloes v Monomotapa (Sakubva).
Online Reporter