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Eddie Chikamhi Sports Reporter
DYNAMOS captain Stephen Alimenda has warned old foes Highlanders to brace for a possible backlash when the giants of domestic football clash in the Castle Lager Premiership match at Barbourfields this Sunday.

The defensive midfielder sounded tormented by the 0-2 defeat they suffered at the hands of Bosso at their Rufaro stronghold earlier this year.

With the loss, DeMbare relinquished a record unbeaten run in their duels with Highlanders stretching 10 years.

Alimenda was in bullish mood yesterday as he declared his team will be on a mission to turn the tables in Bulawayo.

They are not expecting an easy afternoon, though.

“Every game that we play is a big game because these days there are no longer small teams. So we are expecting a tough match in Bulawayo, the same way we have played some difficult matches this season. But one thing that I would want to tell Highlanders is that ‘we are coming there for you.’

“We will obviously not put ourselves under unnecessary pressure by prioritising the idea that we want to revenge because it’s not all about revenge that we want. We are going to Bulawayo to play football and to fight for the three points.

“My teammates are ready for this, they know what I am talking about because we have been discussing these things time and again since the beginning of the season. This is not only about Highlanders, and it’s not a secret that all teams in the Premiership get satisfaction just by beating Dynamos. Every game for us is like a cup final.

“We lost to Highlanders the first time we played in the league this year, so we don’t want to lose again. We are the big boys and we can only show that by our results. Highlanders, even if they beat us then, they know we are the big boys. So tell them we are coming for them,” said Alimenda.

DeMbare continued with their preparations at the National Sports Stadium B Arena yesterday when they played Division One side Herentals in a practice match that ended in a 1-1 stalemate.

The Harare giants, just like their opponents, virtually have a clean bill of health and both teams are expected to field their best on Sunday.

DeMbare boosted their confidence with a close 1-0 win over Chapungu in their previous match.

Alimenda said they regard Barbourfields as their second home and are looking to give Bosso a good run on their turf.

Highlanders are in high spirits as they appear to have rediscovered their winning formula with victories over How Mine and Border Strikers in their last two outings.

They have done well with mid-season signing from CAPS United Allen Gahadzikwa providing the missing link.

Bosso struggled when they lost their forward Knox Mutizwa to South Africa and recently Bruce Kangwa, who signed for Tanzanian outfit Azam.

DeMbare have been searching for stability following a shaky start under Portuguese coach Jorge Paulo Silva.

Current coach Lloyd Mutasa and his assistant Murape Murape have not found the going easy though and a win over Highlanders on Sunday will be crucial.

Unfortunately for the two giants, they had lost considerable ground in this year’s championship race. Highlanders are sitting third on the log standings with 38 points, six behind leaders FC Platinum who have 44 points with eight games remaining.

They will be praying that log leaders FC Platinum, who host How Mine at Mandava tomorrow, will not stretch their lead at the top.

Fixtures

Today

Chapungu v Harare City (Ascot)

Tomorrow

Ngezi Platinum v Bulawayo City (Baobab), Tsholotsho v Border Strikers (Luveve), FC Platinum v How Mine (Mandava)

Sunday

CAPS United v Chicken Inn (NSS), Hwange v ZPC Kariba (Colliery), Mutare City v Triangle (Sakubva), Highlanders v Dynamos (Barbourfields).