Chronicle Editor
Fungai Muderere, Senior Sports Reporter
BULAWAYO football giants Highlanders and defending Castle Lager Premier Soccer Champions will this afternoon battle it out at Barbourfields Stadium in what promises to be a nail-biting encounter.
In the first leg, encounter played on 13 April, Bosso and Ngezi Platinum played to a one all draw.
Bosso head coach Kelvin Kaindu has predicted an entertaining affair.
“All I can say is that Never Rauzhi will not be able to do duty for us tomorrow (today). Besides that setback everyone is available for selection ahead of the big game. I think it is going to be a good game. We are playing against defending champions and we know what they are capable of doing. Looking at both teams on the log shows that it’s game on. We are both good,” said Kaindu.
After playing a one all draw against Dynamos, at Barbourfields Stadium yesterday, Simba Bhora are now positioned number two with 44 points, one behind FC Platinum who thumped Arenel Movers 3-1 at Mandava Stadium.
Highlanders, who are at position four, watched the match between Dynamos and Simba Bhora with keen interest and they hope everything will go their way when they square it off against the free spending platinum miners.
In their last fixture Bosso beat Chegutu Pirates 2-1 at Baobab Stadium while Ngezi Platinum Stars drew nil all against Greenfuel.
Kaindu hopes to build from their previous result for another positive result and without Rauzhi due to injury new signing Nqobile Ndlovu, Lynoth Chikuhwa and Brighton “MaNinja” Ncube will be expected to come to the party.
On the other side, stocky Bulawayo-bred Obriel Chirinda will be looking forward to burying Amahlonyama, a club that badly needed his signature last season.
“I think credit should go to the team. Playing Chegutu Pirates away from home is not an easy fixture. Also we played at the home ground of Ngezi Platinum which means they watched how we play. I am sure they have planned according to the way we played and we are also anticipating to get a better performance at home where I think we have struggled especially with teams that are on the bottom side of the log but we are just one point behind Ngezi and l think it’s going to be a big game. I think a victory for any team will move them up the table,” said Kaindu.
In other matches, Colliery Stadium will be the venue for the game between Hwange and Chegutu Pirates in what will be a repeat of the Chibuku Super Cup preliminary match that was played at Mandava Stadium last Wednesday.
Today’s Fixtures:
Hwange v Chegutu Pirates (Colliery Stadium) Highlanders vNgezi Platinum (Barbourfields Stadium) Manica Diamonds v Herentals (Sakubva). – @FungaiMuderere.
Bongani Ndlovu
Online Reporter