admin
Eddie Chikamhi Sports Reporter
BULAWAYO giants Highlanders believe they have a perfect opportunity to mete out revenge on their bitter rivals Dynamos when the titans of Zimbabwean football clash this Saturday in the TM Pick n’ Pay Challenge Cup at the National Sports Stadium.The match will be the main event on the draw for the TM Pick n Pay Big Brands Bonanza Promotion and a capacity crowd is expected as gate charges have been slashed to US$1 for the cheapest ticket while primary school-going children will have free entrance.
Highlanders, however, are looking to stand up to their opponents to get some measure of revenge after suffering in the shadows of their more decorated opponents in the last eight years.
Coach Kelvin Kaindu believes the time has come for Highlanders to turn the tables after falling three times this year.
DeMbare beat Highlanders 2-0 in the pre-season Bob90 Super Cup and then piled to their woes with identical 1-0 victories in the two league encounters.
The weekend game promises to be tightly-contested, despite being a promotional match as it has a lot at stake.
Winners are set to walk away with US$60 000 while the runners-up get US$50 000.
Highlanders’ determination could easily be captured in Kaindu’s triple emphasis on Saturday’s game being a Cup Final, much to a rapturous applause from the audience who attended the launch yesterday.
“We like to thank the sponsors for coming on board and also giving us another opportunity to play against our rivals,” said Kaindu. “We are trying our level best to come up with a strategy and I think slowly, if you have seen the games that we have been playing, we are heading somewhere and Saturday’s game: this is a Cup Final, this a Cup Final this is a cup final,” said Kaindu.
“Cup Final is different from a league game. As much as we have got respect for Dynamos, I think our talk during practice and whatever we do, we will focus on what we can do.
“We have come closer and we are just hoping the time is coming that we should probably get a victory over them. I am not sure who is at home or who is away… I think the National Sports Stadium is a national stadium, that’s why they call it the National Sports Stadium. In terms of number of fans they may outnumber us but what I like about supporters is that if you play good football they will appreciate you.”
Besides the handsome purse, Bosso have had an extra incentive as they will be flown to and from Bulawayo by the sponsors for this match.
The organisers revealed they were aspiring to match international standards as Highlanders officials, who included chairman Peter Dube, Kaindu, captain Innocent Mapuranga and Charles Sibanda, were flown to Harare for the launch and back to their base after the event.
Both teams will also be accommodated at five-star Meikles Hotel while the kits to be used by the teams, imported from Germany, are of the highest quality.
The organisers also revealed that the entire package for the hosting of this Challenge Cup is estimated at over US$300 000.
There is also going to be a US$2 000 prize for the Man of the Match award.
This package, however, has been split into US$1 000 cash, US$500 voucher at TM and Pick n Pay and another US$500 voucher for Adidas products.
Dynamos midfielder Stephen Alimenda said they were looking to maintain their dominance over Bosso.
Alimenda said their main battle will be an internal one as they need to guard against complacency in view of their records against Highlanders.
“Being a Cup Final obviously everyone wants to win it. We are preparing well so that we land the first prize. It’s like a money-game. We are not looking at past records. Every game is a new game, we can only get satisfaction after the 90 minutes of the game.
“Our win at Mandava on Sunday and the successes in our previous matches, which include our away win at Triangle, have helped boost our confidence. We are enjoying our form and we are looking forward to this game as well,” said Alimenda.
Online Reporter