WATCH: Bosso fired up for Caps United

MISSING only two players for the epic away clash against Harare soccer giants Caps United who they face on Sunday at Barbourfields Stadium, Highlanders coach Baltemar Brito says his charges are fired up for the encounter.

Highlanders will be without suspended left back Archiford Faira and injured Divine Mhindirira.

Mhindirira, who scored the equaliser when the two sides met at Barbourfields Stadium last season, in a match that Highlanders went on to win 2-1, is nursing a long-term injury after having a toe operation.

Brito is hoping that his charges will come to the party on Sunday and restart the championship activity with a victory after a three-week break that was necessitated by the closure of the National Sports Stadium which posed as a health hazard without running water.

The unavailability of suitable stadia to host topflight matches in the capital could prove to be an advantage for Highlanders as they have been spared taking a road trip to Harare for the Caps United encounter.

It is this advantage that they are playing their away game at “home” that Brito hopes his spur his side.

“Of course, they’ll travel. We hope our fans come in large numbers. It’s a plus (that Bosso are at home) but we need to work and fight.

“The break after the victory (Highlanders’ 1-0 win against Bulawayo Chiefs) is not a good break because we performed well against Bulawayo Chiefs. The boys are fired up to come to the match to play after three weeks and hope to do well in the next game because they’ve been doing well in terms of preparations.

“Caps United is one of the biggest teams. They assembled a side that clearly wants the championship at the start of the season. They are big guys and want to play good football, open football that is tactical but just like Dynamos, open football that people enjoy watching,” said Brito.

The Bosso gaffer challenged his players not to read much into news that have been circulating indicating that Joel Ngodzo and Adrian Silla, both former Highlanders members have been fired by Caps United.

“Just like last season, people talk of problems within Caps United but last season they came in strong, gave a good performance and made our life hard. Our boys should be deaf to these news and they must know that Caps United with or without problems are a good side,” Brito said. Without Faira, Highlanders have Godfrey Makaruse who is comfortable on the left side of defence, with pint-sized Elshamar Farasi expected to fill Mhindirira’s void behind the strikers.

Castle Lager Matchday 13 Fixtures

Tomorrow: Bulawayo Chiefs v Greenfuel (Luveve), Manica Diamonds v Sheasham (Gibbo), FC Platinum v Chicken Inn (Mandava), Ngezi Platinum Stars v Hwange (Baobab), ZPC Kariba v Yadah (Nyamhunga).

Sunday: Black Rhinos v Dynamos (Bata), Caps United v Highlanders (BF), Triangle United v Cranborne (Gibbo), Herentals v Simba Bhora (Mandava).