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Highlanders’ championship hopes took a knock in their last league outing where they played to a goalless draw against Chicken Inn last week on Wednesday.
Bosso have gone for 21 games without a loss but trail defending champions DeMbare who have amassed 49 points, by two points.
In their game against Chicken Inn, Highlanders put up a lifeless performance but Mudzingwa is confident that they will rise to the occasion against Shabanie Mine.
“You cannot be on top of your game throughout the season and I believe that when we drew with Chicken Inn it was one of the bad days for us. The guys did not take the result well but I must say they did their best against Blue Rangers in the Mbada Diamonds Cup game.
“I am sure we are going to win and whoever is selected will fight for a positive result,” said Mudzingwa, one of the favourites for a slot among the 11 Soccer Star of the Year finalists.
On the championship hopes slowly fading, the defender who has been consistent for the Bulawayo giants said it was still open.
“The race is still on and I think the last nine games will require us to remain focused. For us to land the title, we have to take each game as it comes and concentrate as much as possible on our matches rather than worry about how Dynamos is playing.
“To our supporters, please come in your numbers and rally behind us because this is the time we need you more than ever,” Mudzingwa said.
At the weekend, Mudzingwa was rewarded for his exploits and took home $500 after being voted man of the match against Blue Rangers in a Mbada Diamonds Cup tie.
Highlanders’ remaining away matches are against Hwange, Monomotapa, defending champions Dynamos, Hardbody and Blue Rangers.
They will be home to Shabanie Mine, Black Mambas, Buffaloes and FC Platinum.
However, Highlanders should be wary of third-placed Shabanie Mine who they beat 2-0 in the first leg because the former asbestos miners can be party spoilers under Luke Masomere.
In their last two encounters, Shabanie Mine have collected six points after beating Monomotapa and Hwange by identical 2-1 scorelines while Highlanders only managed to get four points out of a possible six.
Bosso beat Motor Action 2-1 and were held to a goalless draw by Chicken Inn.
For the weekend game, players to watch from the Bosso camp include young Ozias Zibande who scored the winner against Blue Rangers on Saturday and Masimba Mambare who is expected to start training today after being sidelined for a week through injury.
The league’s top goalscorer with 15 goals Nelson Mazivise is expected to lead Shabanie Mine’s hunt for maximum points.
Meanwhile, another contender for a place in the Soccer Star of the Year calendar Felix Chindungwe of Chicken Inn said they were hoping to bounce back from a shock 2-3 defeat suffered at the hands of Gunners in the first round of the Mbada Diamonds Cup at the weekend.
“Complacency cost us a place in the next round of the Mbada Diamonds Cup. We are training hard and we want to end the season in a respectable position and for us to do that we have to win our games. We are going to fight hard and the fight begins this weekend in Harare,” said Chindungwe.
Ageing Herbert Dick has been struggling for Chicken Inn since his return from injury forcing Chindungwe to work overtime.
Following last weekend’s pathetic show against Gunners at Phelandaba Stadium in Gwanda where Chicken Inn’s defenders failed to deal with the youthful Gunners players, Adam Ndlovu might opt to return to the partnership of Chindungwe and Guide Goddard.
Kudakwashe Mahachi may also retain his place as Canaan Nkomo struggled with his game against Gunners. Another player who might be going to the bench is Thabani Goredema who spent the whole day chasing shadows in Gwanda.
Tenth-placed Hwange are in danger of slipping into relegation following their poor run in the league as they have only managed to pick up two points out of a possible 15 in their last five encounters.
Things seem to be taking a plunge for the coalminers and they have to wake up from their slumber if ever they still want to be in the Premiership next season.
The coalminers have a number of experienced players in the form of Erick Chipeta, Gilbert Zulu, Timothy Sibanda, David Boriwondo and Rodwell Chinyengetere capable of saving the club from sinking deeper into the murky relegation waters.
Francisco is still out injured.
Fixtures
Saturday: Black Mambas v Chicken Inn (Morris Depot), Monomotapa v Hwange (Rufaro), FC Platinum v Caps United (Mandava).
Sunday: Hardbody v Gunners (Ascot), Highlanders v Shabanie Mine (Barbourfields), Dynamos v Motor Action (Rufaro), Blue Rangers v Quelaton (Gwanzura), Buffaloes v Harare City (Sakubva).
Online Reporter