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Being a local derby, the match promises to be a thriller as Quelaton who are stuck to the bottom of the log with four points from 14 outings will not go down without a fight and will want to be the first team to hand Bosso their first defeat of the season.
For them to stop Highlanders’ 13 games’ unbeaten run, the struggling Bulawayo side will have to summon their entire arsenal and judging by their uninspiring performances, they also need divine intervention.
Quelaton last picked maximum points on 5 May when they beat Gunners 1-0 and after that they were held to a one-all draw by Blue Rangers.
Seeing that results were not coming their way, Quelaton roped in former Coach of the Year Philani “Beefy” Ncube to steer their ship out of the murky relegation waters but he is yet to pick up a point in all the four games he has been in charge of the team.
In an interview yesterday, Ncube said they were hoping for better fortunes.
“We respect Highlanders just like any other team does. They are a big club and are enjoying good form. We are looking forward to Sunday’s game and as for our preparations, we have been training just like we did for our last encounters,” he said.
Ncube, who is on record as saying with resources permitting, he would like to beef up his side, has not made any signings.
“The same players that I found here are the ones that we will use for the Highlanders game except new signing Chipo Tsodzo,” he said.
Freedom Magaba and former Highlanders player Winston Chiwetu will fight for the starting goalkeeper’s place with Zibusiso Sibanda, ex-AmaZulu, Lancashire Steel and Hwange’s Prince “Ndongo” Ncube marshalling the defence.
Former Bantu Rovers and national Under-20 utility player Pride Zireni, skipper Innocent Kutsanzira, ex-Bosso midfielders Marshall Machazane and Mpumelelo “Makwe” Moyo and Mhleli Sibanda will battle for starting places in midfield while Amani Makhiwa and Tedius Mugumanja are set to lead Quelaton’s strikeforce.
Bosso, who enjoy a six-point lead over Shabanie Mine, will be hoping to take their unbeaten run to 14 games.
Highlanders’ attacking brand of football that Zambian expatriate Kelvin Kaindu has introduced is driven by ambitious players.
Kaindu said the Quelaton game was a complicated tie for them.
“Derbies are always difficult. It will be a tricky game and we respect Quelaton,” said Kaindu.
Asked to comment on his team’s championship hopes, Kaindu said: “It shall be well.”
Bosso are likely to be without their number one shot-stopper Ariel Sibanda who will travel with the senior national team to Botswana for a four-nation tournament that starts on Tuesday. In his absence, former Dynamos and Zimbabwe Saints goalkeeper Munyaradzi Diya might make his league debut for Bosso but will compete for that starting place with young Archford Katsande.
Katsande was in goal when Bosso drew 1-1 with Buffaloes in Mutare at the beginning of the season.
Kaindu will probably maintain the same team that beat Caps United 1-0.
Lawson Nkomo, who looked unsettled last weekend, is fighting for a right back position with hardworking Atlast Musasa with Innocent Mapuranga set to partner Eric Mudzingwa in central defence while an improved Bruce Kangwa completes the back four at leftback.
Peter “Rio” Moyo, who will be facing his former paymasters, is expected to be part of a formidable Highlanders midfield made up of Mthulisi Maphosa, Masimba Mambare, Milton Ncube and Bhekimpilo Ncube.
Kaindu can unleash Graham Ncube, Beavan Chikaka or Ozias Zibande to lead the strikeforce.
Meanwhile, third placed Chicken Inn have a tricky away game against Harare City at Rufaro Stadium this afternoon. The Gamecox beat Motor Action 1-0 last weekend and they will be hoping to collect maximum points today and keep their championship hopes alive.
Our Midlands Correspondent reports that struggling Castle Lager Premiership side, Hardbody are targeting to win nine of the 16 remaining league matches which according to the executive will be enough to survive relegation.
The Gweru-based side is currently languishing in the murky waters of relegation on position 14 after amassing a paltry 10 points from 14 games in an indifferent campaign which has claimed the scalp of head coach Tavaka Gumbo and his assistant Brighton Muchambo.
The duo has since been replaced by Godfrey Tamirepi who has taken over as the head coach and is assisted by Conrad Nyambabvu who has left the same post at Northern Region Division One side, DSTV Rangers to join the Gweru side.
Club spokesperson and secretary-general, Wellington Ngulube said the executive will review the team’s performance after every five games.
“The mandate of the new coach is to save the team from relegation and in this regard we will be reviewing the performance of the team after every five games where we are targeting at least three wins. It is left for us to win nine games out of the 16 league matches as history has shown that teams produce such kind of results to survive relegation,” said Ngulube at the club’s maiden routine Press conferences which will be held every Thursday.
In Zvishavane, Paul Mundandi writes, Luke Masomere the Shabanie Mine coach has promised dinner to his players and their spouses if they manage to come up with a positive result from Lafarge today where they clash with Gunners.
“I am going to take my players and their partners for a lifetime dinner. I will fund the event from my own pocket. Last week I promised them a holiday before the Harare City match and I have just started training this afternoon (yesterday) and I will live up to my word,” said Masomere.
Masomere one of the best motivators in the league is aware of the damage that Gunners can cause especially when they are at home. Last weekend Gunners surprised Hwange when they beat the coalminers 3-0 at the Colliery.
Masomere however believes his lads are well prepared for the match.
“I prepared for the entire season during the pre-season training and my approach remains the same. I am however meeting a team with youngsters who are very good, who know how to play. I was told by Nation (Dube) that they can play good football. I have heard that they can start play at 1000hrs and play until 1800hrs without resting. In that case imagine such players just kicking the ball for 90 minutes. They will be having a bundle of energy but I am ready for them,” said Masomere.
Fixtures
Today: Gunners v Shabanie Mine (Lafarge), Motor Action v Monomotapa (Motor Action Sports Club), Blue Rangers v Black Mambas (Gwanzura), Harare City v Chicken Inn (Rufaro)
Tomorrow: Quelaton v Highlanders (Barbourfields), Hardbody v Buffaloes (Ascot), Caps United v Hwange (Gwanzura)
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