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Fungai Muderere, Senior Sports Reporter
BULAWAYO Chiefs coach, Nilton Terroso has acknowledged that their Castle Lager Premier Soccer League match against in-form army side Black Rhinos set for Luveve Stadium this afternoon is not going to be a stroll in the park for them.
In their past three games under the guidance of their new coach Stanford “Stix” Mutizwa, who took over from Herbert Maruwa at the end of July, Rhinos have been enjoying a new lease of life that has seen them collect seven points from a possible nine with an impressive success rate of 78 percent for the period under review.
Their latest victory was over title contenders Chicken Inn whom they edged 2-1 at Rusape’s Vengere Stadium last Saturday. It was a victory that took them to position seven with 38 points.
On the other hand, Amakhosi Amahle were heading into this weekend’s matches sitting on number 10 after amassing 33 points after posting a draw, a win and loss in their last three matches. In their last three matches, Terroso’s charges have collected four out of nine points and on a 44 percent success rate for the period under scrutiny.
No wonder Chiefs, who will march into the cauldron of Luveve Stadium after holding Harare City to a nil all draw in their previous encounter, are very much wary of their opponents.
“It’s going to be a difficult one as we face a team that is above us in the table. It’s a team that we were not able to beat in the first leg. We have done our best at training to identify what we have done so well in our previous matches and we have tried to improve on that. We are trying to constantly change and adapt. In that sense we have done a few things differently, different tactics, different styles,” said Terroso.
“We know they are a physical side but I don’t think we have a problem with that, the rules are there, there will be someone to manage those rules but football is a physical game such that contact is part of the game to a certain level. We are going to play our game as always and try to do our best and overcome all the obstacles. They beat us 2-1 away and we are going to try and do our best at home. We will seek to perform regardless of who is in or out,” added the Portuguese mentor.
Chauya Chipembere are probably set to largely bank on the services of their nimble footed captain Farai Banda, their last weekend’s goal scorer Eli Ilunga, Brighton Christopher and veteran duo of Gracious Muleya and Joe Nyabinde.
Bulawayo Chiefs will have skipper Malvin Mkolo, goal poacher Obriel Chirinda, Perfect Chikwende, hard running Farau
Matare, Kevin Moyo and ex-Warriors midfielder Kelvin Madzongwe among others to spearhead their quest for a positive result.
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Bongani Ndlovu
Online Reporter