Mamelodi Sundowns to play Zim’s big three

side Mamelodi Sundowns will play Highlanders at Barbourfields Stadium at the end of the month.

The South African side will also engage Caps United and Dynamos in Harare.

The biggest beneficiaries will probably be Dynamos who are preparing for a match against Lesotho Correctional Services in the African Champions League next month.

Both PSL president Twine Phiri and Highlanders chairman Peter Dube confirmed the match schedule  yesterday.

A member of the Sundowns management Trott Moloto is expected in Bulawayo this morning for an inspection of the facilities and a meeting with Bosso.

This will be the highest profile visit by a South African club to Bulawayo since both countries attained independence.

Kaizer Chiefs, Orlando Pirates and Moroka Swallows used to be regulars at Barbourfields and Rufaro stadiums before independence.

Because of the good relations Douglas Maneto, Onias Musana, Shadreck Ngwenya and Max Tshuma penned contracts with Swallows while glamour club Kaizer Chiefs took on board Ebson “Sugar” Muguyo who is a celebrated hero at the Phefeni Boys.

“Yes Caps United, Dynamos and Highlanders will play against Mamelodi Sundowns from 29 January to 3 February. The deals are as good as done, Trott Moloto was here in Harare, he met me in my capacity as PSL head and he proceeded to finalise with representatives of Caps and Dynamos.

“Tomorrow Moloto should be meeting the Highlanders executive in Bulawayo. We expect him to tour one or two places for accommodation and the facilities in Bulawayo. As PSL we believe this is the way to go, our clubs must play notable opposition when they prepare for Africa, we hope this is the beginning of many good things to come from such partnership,” said Phiri.

Highlanders’ chairman confirmed today’s meeting with the former Bafana Bafana coach.

“He is coming to Bulawayo to meet Highlanders over the possibility of such a match. Naturally we are ecstatic over the renewal of relations with South African clubs. This will be a big lift to our boys,” said Dube.

Sundowns are among the most followed clubs in the Southern Africa region with Kaizer Chiefs, Highlanders, Dynamos and Orlando Pirates.

They are popular in Zimbabwe because of the influence of injiva who have followed the club from its colourful era when the team was run by Zola Mahobe with Stanley Screamer Tshabalala as coach. They introduced what was known as “shoeshine piano” football, a sleek passing game from the back through midfield with Daniel Mudau, passing master Ernest Chirwali and Harold Legodi among its stars.

Brilliant performances by the likes of Rodger Feutmba, Raphael Chukwu and Teko Modise has left the club among the “must-watch” in South Africa.

Local boy Esrom Nyandoro has reached legendary status and fans will be eager to watch him against a team the late Benjamin Moyo failed to poach from at the end of 1999.

Nyandoro, who fought exciting battles with Richard Choruma, Honour Gombami, Charles Chilufya and Blessing Gumiso in the Highlanders engineroom almost a decade ago, will this time face exciting Peter Moyo, Mthulisi “Monitoring Force” Maphosa and Soccer Star of the Year runner-up Masimba Mambare.

Highlanders have previously played Black Leopards, Jomo Sono and Dynamos of South Africa but all are not anywhere close to the deal that Sundowns are.

Sundowns is coming at a time when Cosafa resolved that there be a regional club championship alongside the Cosafa Castle Cup.

Dynamos were the last team that won the regional title way back in 1976, since then there has not been such competitions.