adminBulawayo giants Bosso shot to the top of the table following their 3-0 win over Buffaloes while FC Platinum who had set the pace, dropped into second because of an inferior goal difference.
But Chikuni believes that the platinum miners are doing everything in their power to reclaim the top spot although he knows it’s not going to be an easy assignment.
“We are not putting pressure on our players just because we are playing Highlanders in a top of the table clash.
“Infact we are trying to take it like any other normal game,” said Chikuni.
However, Chikuni said deep down, they are aware of the hype that has attracted the match and he would like his charges to get a positive result, not only from the match against Bosso.
“The league is a marathon and we need to manage the players not only for this game against Highlanders,” said Chikuni.
FC Platinum are still buoyed by their 2-2 draw against Dynamios at Rufaro last week when gave the miners their first point in a league encounter against DeMbare.
“We have just got to the quarter of the race and the games are getting intense now. So there is need to manage the players, even at training so that we remain focused.
“The other thing is that we have just entered a cold spell and injuries are bound to be numerous,” said Chikuni.
Both FC Platinum and Highlanders have played eight matches and won six while drawing once and losing once. The two teams have scored 16 goals each this season but Bosso have conceded one less than FC Platinum’s seven goals.
“Highlanders are doing very well and we should be well prepared. I am sure everyone is ready and the players are competing hard for places in the team,” said Chikuni.
The Moneybags are likely to miss Raphael Mudiviwa and Quad Amini who are still injured while the Zvishavane side are still seating over the fitness of highly rated midfielder Joel Ngodzo who picked a know during their duel with Dynamos.
FC Platinum still have the identical Moyo twins, Elvis and Kelvin while the side also has tall defender Daniel Veremu and former Hwange goalkeeper Petros Mhari at the rear.
Bosso will be going into the match without Simon Munawa who is sitting on three yellow cards but the Bulawayo will be praying that goalkeeper Munyaradzi Diya retains his fine form.
Meanwhile Highlanders have been slapped with an US$8 000 fine by the PSL disciplinary committee following the riotous behaviour of their fans during a Premiership match against Shabanie on Good Friday.
Highlanders won the match 2-0 but according to the judgment delivered yesterday, trouble at Maglas started in the 21st minute when Highlanders fans threw missiles onto the pitch in protest to the referee’s decision to book midfielder Knox Mutizwa for simulation in the box.
Shabanie Mine were on top of the situation, when Masvingo referee Makonese Masakadza flashed a yellow card to Mutizwa.
The match had to be stopped for 24 minutes as missiles rained onto the pitch and only resumed after police details were beefed up.
The missiles were mainly targeted at assistant referee Allen Parehwa, who had to flee the touchline and declined to resume his position fearing that the worst could happen.
It then degenerated into a war of stones between the Bosso and Shabanie Mine fans which left a number of fans injured after the match.
According the judgment handed by Don Moyo (chairman) Vusi Vuma and Brighton Mudzamiri who made up the committee, Bosso have until the end of this month to pay the fine as well as the costs of the hearing.
Both Highlanders and Shabanie had been brought for a hearing but it was Bosso who have been made to face the music while the Chinda Boys were found not guilty after it was reached that they had provided enough security as the home team.
Fixtures:
Saturday: Chicken Inn v Motor Action (Luveve), Black Mambas v Black Rhinos (Morris Depot), Tripple B v Monoz (Dulibadzimu), FC Platinum v Highlanders (Mandava)
Sunday : Shabanie v Harare City (Maglas), How Mine v Buffaloes (Luveve), Triangle v CAPS United (Gibbo), Dynamos v Hwange (Rufaro).
Online Reporter