BATTLE OF ZIMBABWE

Sp1Grace Chingoma Sports Reporter—
AS  the biggest Premiership showdown in the country, the Battle of Zimbabwe clash between Dynamos and Highlanders looms, Bosso coach Kelvin Kaindu has refused to read much into his opponents’ inconsistent run arguing that form will not count much at the National Sports Stadium on Sunday.Highlanders are unbeaten in 11 starts to the 2014 season with Kaindu’s men — who have accumulated 21 points — being only one of two sides together with newboys ZPC Kariba, still to taste defeat.

The Bulawayo giants are in second place behind Hwange who have 22 points.

In contrast, fifth-placed Dynamos have lost four times in 11 games with the champions managing a draw and six wins but they will take some comfort in that they are just three points off the pace and two behind Bosso, who remain their biggest rivals.

Despite his team being unbeaten so far this season, Kaindu — who has also expressed concern with the fact that they have drawn six of those 11 matches — refused to be carried away with their good run and argued that their encounters with Dynamos are not gauged on form.

The Zambian coach instead reckoned that Sunday’s epic clash could be decided on tactical discipline by either side with the more organised team and “the better team on the day winning’’.

Highlanders have had their selection options boosted by the return to training of midfielders — Rahman Kutsanzira and Kuda Mahachi — who had been nursing injuries.

“Training is going on well and Mahachi as well as Rahman are back and I’m not sure whether they would make it into the final team or not. The better side will win this match and no team has more chances than the other. Our form doesn’t count in this match but the team which is more organised should win this encounter,’’ Kaindu said.

Recent history, however, is working against Bosso, who last beat DeMbare in a league match in 2006 when Ralph Matema struck their winner at Rufaro and Kaindu declined to dwell much on that yesterday but hinted that it was more of a psychological problem which they had been working on ahead of Sunday’s match.

“The mental and physical part of the players we have dealt with it and they are okay. Fortunately, we don’t have players who are injured but we have players who are returning from injuries and started training and should be a boost for us,” Kaindu said.

In their only meeting so far this year — the Bob @90 Super Cup final — it was Dynamos who triumphed again with Callisto Pasuwa’s men claiming the honours via a 2-0 victory in March.

Bosso will also be hoping that a change of base by Dynamos, who have now switched from the more intimidating atmosphere at Rufaro to the National Sports Stadium, could also bring with it a change of fortunes for them this time around.

Warriors forward Charles Sibanda has also been enjoying his game since his off-season move from FC Platinum to Highlanders.

Both teams were last Sunday derailed in their league assignments with Dynamos suffering a 1-0 loss against Hwange at the Colliery while Bosso were held 1-1 by Triangle at Gibbo.

Dynamos team manager Richard Chihoro, said yesterday they were now looking to put behind them the disappointment of their defeat by Hwange at the Colliery.

“What we experienced at the Colliery was daylight robbery. It was a dubious penalty but I believe this will not weigh us down.  We have been talking about this and the boys are actually saying let’s forget about it and focus on what is ahead of us. We have a big game coming up and you will notice that such matches involving either Highlanders or CAPS United are always very competitive. They are usually played at high tempo and there is a very thin line between winning and losing,” Chihoro said.

Chihoro said they were also bracing for a tough afternoon against their bitter rivals who he said were eager to end DeMbare’s dominance over them.

“Obviously Highlanders are coming here to prove something. I am sure they will be looking to come strongly at us because they have lost a lot of matches against us. They would want to break the jinx so we have to prepare well for them,” said Chihoro.

Meanwhile, the game between CAPS United and Chiredzi at Chishamiso has been moved to Sunday, according to a revised fixture released by the PSL yesterday. The match was initially slatted for Saturday.

CAPS United have been poor travellers and will be looking for their first win on the road this season.

Harare City, who are on a revival mission, will get the Week 12 programme underway on Friday with a tricky assignment away to Chapungu at Ascot where the Gweru airmen have virtually been unbeatable so far.

Sunshine Boys coach Bigboy Mawiwi, who watched with great satisfaction as his side thumped Bantu Rovers 4-1 at Rufaro on Monday, said he was aware of the threat that Chapungu pose to any opposition on their home turf and is expecting a tough encounter.

Fixtures:

Friday: Chapungu v Harare City (Ascot, SS).

Saturday: Bantu Rovers v Buffaloes (Luveve), Black Rhinos v Triangle United (Rimuka, SS).

Sunday: Chiredzi v CAPS United (Chishamiso), Dynamos v Highlanders (National Sports Stadium, SS), Hwange v Chicken Inn (Colliery), How Mine v FC Platinum (Luveve), Shabanie Mine v ZPC Kariba (Maglas).

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