We don’t fear Bosso’

MANICA Diamonds coach Paul Mandizha says his side will not be overawed by the occasion when they host Highlanders in a potentially explosive Castle Lager Premier Soccer League encounter at Sakubva Stadium on Saturday.

The Mutare-based side have endured a difficult start to the season and head into the tie desperate to turn around their fortunes against one of the country’s biggest clubs.

Manica Diamonds have managed just two wins, two draws and suffered eight defeats in their opening 13 matches, leaving them languishing fourth from bottom on the league table with only nine points.

Despite their struggles, Mandizha insists his players are motivated by the challenge of facing Highlanders and believes the atmosphere surrounding the fixture could bring the best out of his team.

“Whenever we play Highlanders it is always a special feeling because they are a big team with a rich football culture,” said Mandizha.

“We respect them, but that does not mean we fear them. They have a massive fan base that can intimidate opponents on any given day, so going into a match like this we have to be at our best both physically and mentally.

“We know the kind of challenge that awaits us and we will have to punch above our weight.”

Highlanders head into the match carrying the tag of draw specialists this season. Bosso have lost only once in the league campaign, but a series of stalemates has slowed their push towards the top of the table.

Benjani Mwaruwari’s men have won three matches and drawn nine, with their inability to consistently convert draws into victories becoming a growing concern among supporters.

However, Mandizha believes Highlanders remain one of the strongest sides in the league despite their mixed results.

“When you look at Highlanders, I believe they are posting good results and they are playing good football,” he said.

“They are difficult to beat and that tells you a lot about the quality they have in their squad.”

Saturday’s encounter will also mark another important moment for Manica Diamonds as they continue settling back into Sakubva Stadium after spending the opening part of the campaign playing their home matches away from Mutare due to the unavailability of the venue.

The return to Sakubva following its homologation has given the Gem Boys renewed hope as they seek to climb away from the relegation zone.

Mandizha believes finally playing at home again has lifted morale within the squad and reduced the physical burden his players had endured earlier in the season.

“Returning to Sakubva has boosted the confidence of the team,” said Mandizha.

“It has also relieved us of the fatigue and headaches that came with having to travel even for our home games. Playing in front of our supporters again is something very important for us.”

The match will also see Mandizha come up against Mwaruwari, one of Zimbabwe’s most celebrated football figures.

Mandizha says facing a coach of Benjani’s profile is both an honour and an opportunity to learn.

“Playing against a coach with all that experience is good for us as coaches as well,” he said.

“Benjani has achieved a lot in football and there is always something you can learn from people with that kind of experience.”

For Highlanders, the trip to Mutare presents another opportunity to prove they can turn promising performances into maximum points, while for Manica Diamonds, the match could represent the perfect platform to kick-start their season.

With Sakubva expected to provide a charged atmosphere, all signs point to another fiercely contested battle between the two sides.