Chronicle Editor
Veronica Gwaze, Harare Bureau
FIERY Highlanders captain, Peter Muduhwa is called “21-Questions” because he seems to query almost everything that does not go in his favour in the game. Yet at the weekend, Muduhwa walked out of Rufaro Stadium with 21 answers instead.
Bosso dominated the game and beat bitter rivals Dynamos 2-0 to complete the double with goals from McKinnon Mushore and Godfrey Makaruse either side of the half-time break. The two goals were enough to hand Muduhwa the answers he needed especially as it was the first time that he wore the armband in the biggest game of the league.
Since rising to be Ariel Sibanda’s deputy years back, the armband has belonged to the veteran goalkeeper in the big battle. Coupled with the failure to win the Harare legs in recent seasons, the armband made the task huge for Muduhwa. Even as Kelvin Kaindu’s troops prepared to break the Harare jinx, Muduhwa acknowledged that he carried with him a heavy emotional burden.
Not only did he worry about whether or not they would be able to finally overpower the Blue army at its traditional home, but also how the team would react to Dynamos’ crowd at Rufaro. “Playing Dynamos is not an easy task, worse at Rufaro Stadium where they are known for a huge crowd,” he told Zimpapers Sport.
“Coming here, I had so much on my mind, being the captain you cannot show your boys that you have some deep seated fear, so I had to put up a brave face. “The message was that we will not look at their crowd or even listen to anything that comes from there, we simply wanted to play our game and show them that we have what it takes.
“I am happy the young guys did exactly that and we completed the double.” Muduhwa believes that the championship marathon is still open and that they are in a good space to contest for the title. While the Bulawayo giants last won the league title in 2006 under Methembe Ndlovu, the skipper believes that they have what it takes to write another piece of history.
The victory against Dynamos, he said, feels different from any other hence will go a long way in boosting his team’s confidence in the second round of the league games. “When the season started, I questioned why we had such a fixture on match-day one, but today I chose to look at it differently. It is actually good for us,” he said.
“I am happy we collected the points, we had a fine day and getting an early goal kind of gave us the confidence that we needed, which in turn also made my responsibility quite easier. “When you are putting on the armband and you lose, it always feels like being the captain you did not do your job.
“I always try to push my boys to work harder, we are a group that has a lot of zeal and will be willing to leave everything in the field of play on any day…I personally hate defeat and do not take it lightly. “Such a massive victory, ahead of our battle against Bulawayo Chiefs at the weekend gives us the comfort and courage we need.”
Week 19 fixtures
Saturday: Arenel Movers v Chicken Inn (Luveve), FC Platinum v Ngezi Platinum (Mandava), Greenfuel v Simba Bhora (GreenFuel Arena), Yadah v Bikita Minerals (Heart Stadium), ZPC Kariba v Chegutu Pirates (Nyamhunga).
Sunday: CAPS United v Herentals (Rufaro), Highlanders v Bulawayo Chiefs (Barbourfields), Hwange v Dynamos (Colliery), Manica Diamonds v TelOne (Sakubva).
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