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Sikhumbuzo Moyo Senior Sports Reporter
RELEGATION threatened Tripple B believe their road to survival begins tomorrow when they play giants Dynamos in a Castle Lager Premier Soccer League match at Rufaro Stadium. It’s a weekend that might probably have a huge bearing on Dynamos’ title defence as well as Highlanders championship aspirations.
Bosso play Black Rhinos tomorrow afternoon at Rimuka Stadium in Kadoma where the soldiers are yet to concede a goal.
DeMbare have not won a match in their last four competitive matches with the boys’ morale and confidence said to be at its lowest ebb.
It is against this background that Beitbridge-based Tripple B who narrowly lost to the Glamour Boys in the Mbada Diamonds Cup first round, are confident of causing what will surely be a huge upset on the domestic scene tomorrow.
“We have been playing well in our games but when we played Highlanders, some of our players were injured but for the Dynamos match we will be in full force. We have declared war against all our remaining opponents starting with the so-called giants, Dynamos,” said Tripple B coach Peter Manoti.
He said their chances of doing well and coming back to Matabeleland South with maximum points were high.
“To us we expect nothing short of victory against Dynamos on Sunday (tomorrow). We trained hard and have a clean bill of health,” said Manoti.
The Glamour Boys coach Callisto Pasuwa needs to summon all his tactical and technical shrewdness to come up with a positive result. Many within the blue and white family are already calling for the return of former assistant coach Tonderayi Ndiraya who was believed to have been a schemer in the Dynamos dressing room.
Tripple B, second from the bottom of the 16-team log with just 19 points, were mauled 4-1 by Highlanders who could have recorded a rugby like scoreline had their strikeforce been more precise in front of goal.
Amahlolanyama, now firm favourites for a league and cup double as they are still in the lucrative Mbada Diamonds Cup, leave the city this morning headed for Rimuka Stadium which their opponents, Black Rhinos, have turned into a fortress.
Black Rhinos assistant coach Ndega Matsika said he was aware of the threat posed by Highlanders.
“It’s a fact, Bosso are on song at the moment and it will really be a difficult game for us. However we are ready for them and my boys are just but itching to face the title chasing giants.
“I would not want to read too much into our record at Rimuka but obviously we would want to maintain it,” said Matsika.
Highlanders banged in 13 goals in their last five matches but what must be of worry to coach Kelvin Kaindu is the rate at which his boys are conceding goals.
In their last five matches, they have only kept a clean sheet in the Mbada Cup quarter-finals against Buffaloes while in all the other games they have let in rather silly goals. Goalkeeper Munyaradzi Diya who is firmly in the running for the Goalkeeper of the Year, needs to pull up his socks.
“We are aware that Black Rhinos are yet to lose or even concede a goal at Rimuka Stadium and that on its own makes our trip a very difficult one but we shall find ways of working around that. Preparations went on well and the mental strength of the boys is just amazing,” said Kaindu.
He said they will go to Kadoma with a positive mind and was confident of a good show.
Highlanders lead the log standings by two points and are the most lethal team in the league, scoring 37 goals.
The Bulawayo giants could have wrapped up the league title by now had they not gone through a bad spell in which they collected just eight points out of a possible 24.
They would have emulated the team of 2002 that clinched the title with a number of games to spare before ending the season 20 points clear of second placed Black Rhinos.
Castle Lager Premiership weekend matches start this afternoon with Chicken Inn set to host Hwange.
Mandla Mpofu and his assistant Mkhuphali Masuku know how hard pressed they are for a win. They will not find it easy as Nation Dube’s army is eager to get to 35 points to be guaranteed survival in the elite league.
Gilbert Zulu, Isaac Masame and Oscar Lungu are expected to spearhead the Hwange attack. Gerald Ndlovu, Eric Chipeta and David Boriwondo all worth consideration among the country’s 11 Soccer Star of the Year list can be counted on.
Tendai Ndoro and Kudakwashe Mahachi are still a potent force for Chicken Inn and could cause the coalminers all sorts of problems as they are confident on the ball and good shooters. Felix Chindungwe will marshal the defence with Guide Goddard.
Tomorrow, How Mine, buoyed by recent wins against Dynamos and Highlanders, will take on Harare City at Barbourfields.
Harare City play an entertaining passing game and should find joy in playing on the near perfect Barbourfields turf.
Simba Sithole, Menard Mupera and Thembani Masuku hold the key to How Mine’s win.
Fixtures
Today: Chicken Inn v Hwange (Barbourfields), Black Mambas v Caps United (Morris Depot)
Tomorrow: Shabanie Mine v Monomotapa (Maglas), How Mine v Harare City (Barbourfields), Buffaloes v Motor Action (Sakubva), Black Rhinos v Highlanders (Rimuka), Triangle v FC Platinum (Gibbo), Dynamos v Tripple B (Rufaro)
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