Online Reporter
Fungai Muderere
HIGHLANDERS fans will be biting their nails this Good Friday as their defensive general and skipper Andrew Mbeba is ruled out once again, just as Bosso prepares to lock horns with fierce city rivals Chicken Inn in an explosive Independence Day Derby clash at White City Stadium.
It’s the second straight match the Warriors defender will miss, after limping off during a bruising encounter against Triangle United two weeks ago. His absence was already felt in last weekend’s win against CAPS United — and now Bosso must charge into derby battle without their backbone.
“Andrew Mbeba is still out,” confirmed Bosso gaffer Kelvin Kaindu. “We thought it was a minor knock, but he still needs to see a specialist. We’re trying everything we can to get him back on track as soon as possible.”
Mbeba, who has been pivotal in both defence and forward surges, now looks set to miss Bosso’s Easter Monday showdown against Ngezi Platinum Stars at Baobab Stadium too — a double blow for a club desperate for consistency.
“We picked up a few minor knocks in the last game,” added Kaindu. “Talent Dube couldn’t finish the match but has now fully recovered. We’ll rotate carefully with the quick Easter fixture turnaround.”
The Independence Day Derby is a curtain-raiser for the weekend-long PSL Easter football fiesta, with Good Friday kicking off in style. While Dynamos and Highlanders won’t feature in the official Uhuru Cup this year, all eyes are on Bosso vs Gamecocks, two sides with unfinished business.
Last year’s Uhuru tie saw Chicken Inn fall to Bulawayo Chiefs in a shocker — but this time, they’ll face a wounded Bosso side out to reclaim city bragging rights in front of what promises to be a packed White City Stadium.
The match is one of several across the country forming part of the Zim@45 Independence celebrations, under the theme: “Devolve and Develop Together towards Vision 2030.”
Meanwhile, the official Uhuru Cup main event shifts from Harare and Bulawayo to Gokwe North for the first time ever, where Simba Bhora will face off against FC Platinum at Nembudziya Growth Point Open Ground in front of a projected 60 000 fans — a massive leap for a region that has never hosted top-flight football.
“This decentralisation is huge for football and national unity,” said one PSL official. “Gokwe deserves this moment.”
Gokwe’s Thursday Children’s Party was also spiced up by a women’s football battle between Herentals Queens and Black Rhinos Queens, spotlighting the growing role of women in Zimbabwean sport.
With Easter football fixtures stretching from GreenFuel to Kwekwe and back to Baobab, fans across the nation are in for a feast of football, pride, and fierce provincial rivalry.
But for Bosso . . .
No Mbeba. No excuses.
It’s time to rise — or fall — under the lights of White City.
