Online Reporter
Innocent Kurira, Sports Reporter
HIGHLANDERS team manager Zenzo Moyo believes Bosso are ready for this afternoon’s blockbuster Castle Lager Premier Soccer League clash against CAPS United despite the emotional week the club has endured following the tragic loss of three senior executives and a staunch supporter.
The Battle of the Cities has never lacked intensity, but this latest chapter carries far greater significance for Highlanders.
It comes just days after the burials of chairman Retired Colonel Kenneth Mhlophe, vice-chairman Fiso Siziba and treasurer Nkani Khoza, whose passing has left the club mourning.
Yet amid the grief, Moyo says the players have remained focused on the task ahead and are determined to honour the memory of the three leaders with a positive result against their old rivals at Rufaro Stadium.
“What I will tell you is we are ready to face CAPS United. It’s not going to be an easy game but we have prepared well and we are ready for the game,” said Moyo.
“Of course, we know what happened last week with the club losing part of its leadership. Psychologically, this has an impact, but these are professional players and they understand what they have to do when they get onto the pitch.
“Obviously we now have added pressure because the boys know they have to play for the leadership we lost. These guys loved this team and we have to make sure we honour them at least by beating CAPS United.”
“We know what this fixture means to the club and to our supporters. The events of the past week have been difficult for everyone associated with Highlanders, but the players have shown great character. They have remained focused throughout our preparations and they understand the responsibility of wearing the Highlanders jersey. We are going into this match determined to give our supporters something to smile about and honour the memory of the leaders we lost with a committed performance.”
The clash also has huge implications in the race for league positions.
CAPS United occupy sixth place on 39 points, just two ahead of Highlanders, who sit seventh on 37.
A Bosso victory would see Benjani Mwaruwari’s men leapfrog Makepekepe and continue their push up the table.
For Mwaruwari, the match also presents an opportunity to avenge one of the few disappointments of his reign.
Earlier this season, CAPS United handed the Highlanders coach his first defeat since taking charge, winning 2-1 in Bulawayo after scoring twice from set pieces. Bosso will be keen to show they have learned from that painful afternoon.
The emotional challenge, however, may prove even greater than the football contest.
The journey to Harare means travelling along the same Bulawayo-Gweru Road where the accident that claimed the lives of Mhlophe, Siziba, Khoza and club member Mbalenhle Sibanda occurred just a week ago.
It is a route that inevitably brings back painful memories for players and officials alike.
Coach Mwaruwari has at least received encouraging news on the playing front after confirming he has a fully fit squad available for selection, giving him plenty of options for one of the biggest fixtures of the season.
History has shown that form often matters little whenever CAPS United and Highlanders meet. The rivalry has always been defined by passion, pride and an unwavering desire to emerge victorious.
This afternoon, however, Bosso will be carrying more than just the hopes of their supporters.
They will be playing for three men who dedicated their lives to the club, hoping that the best tribute they can offer comes not through words, but through a committed performance and three priceless points.
