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Grace Chingoma Sports Reporter—
BIG CAPS United goalkeeper Edmore “Zikeeper’’ Sibanda has rallied his Green Machine teammates to be good on a revenge mission and overcome Highlanders in Part II of their 2016 Battle of the Cities Castle Lager Premiership clash at the National Sports Stadium on Sunday. The blockbuster encounter will kick-off at 4pm as a result of SuperSport who will be beaming the game live.

Sibanda said CAPS United badly need a win at their National Sports Stadium fortress in order to make a bold statement about their championship credentials. The veteran goalkeeper is also relishing the opportunity to turn back the hands of time with another stellar show between the posts.

Sibanda has reclaimed the Number One spot ahead of Joram Muchambo at CAPS United ever since being registered at the start of the current transfer window. Despite CAPS United’s 1-0 defeat in the reverse fixture at Barbourfields where veteran striker Leonard Tsipa saw red, Sibanda is confident that Makepekepe will turn things around on Sunday.

Castle Premiership Player of The Month for April, May and June Bruce Kangwa grabbed the goal that made the difference in Part I of the Battle of the Cities. But Kangwa is now doubtful for Sunday’s showdown at the National Sports Stadium, having left for Tanzania where he is on the verge of joining that country’s top-flight side Azam.

Sibanda, however, is not worried about who is available or not in the Bosso camp and just wants CAPS United to immediately bounce back to winning ways and power into second place and close in on leaders FC Platinum.

CAPS United, with 29 points, are third and currently four points behind Norman Mapeza’s miners. Sibanda and his teammates would also draw some comfort from the fact that Bosso were restricted to a goalless stalemate by Triangle at Barbourfields yesterday.

CAPS United could also benefit from some fresher legs as Bosso will be playing their third game inside seven days when they travel to the National Sports Stadium on Sunday, having featured in the ZNA Charities Shield against Harare City at Barbourfields last Sunday before playing Triangle yesterday.

For Sibanda and the Green army, all that matters most to them is winning their immediate assignment at the National Sports Stadium. “I am enjoying my football. I had missed football. It has been a long time so I am enjoying playing football again and winning matches.

“All that I want is to enjoy my game at the same time helping my team win matches,” said Sibanda. Sibanda gave a stand-out performance in his first match when CAPS United beat Tsholotsho 2-0 before suffering the set-back at Barbourfields where they lost 1-0 to Highlanders.

Now he believes the weekend’s clash presents them with a perfect chance to get back to the top. “As CAPS United we want to remain in the race and keep up with those in front of us. So a better way to do so is to beat those teams that are on top and Sunday is the perfect time to do that,” Sibanda said.

The veteran goalkeeper would be one of the senior players in CAPS United colours and reckons that experience will also come in handy. A former Warriors first choice, Sibanda believes he has seen enough of the high profiles football clashes to know what is expected and how to handle them. “These games are all the same. They bring artificial pressure but the most important thing is how to handle that pressure.

“But in our team everyone now knows how to handle that pressure and with coach Lloyd Chitembwe there is no better man to look upon when faced with such matches. He can guide us and help us. He has been involved in games of that calibre and knows how to deal with that,” said Sibanda.

In last year’s encounter at home, CAPS United beat the Bulawayo giants 3-1. Actually CAPS United hold a good record against their rivals when it comes to home matches whenever the two teams clash with CAPS United having only lost twice at home since 2004.

CAPS United have dominated Highlanders for the past 12 years with the Green Machine managing to win eight of those encounters, drawing twice and losing twice. Sibanda says they will not dwell much into history as Sunday’s match is a fresh game which requires a new approach from them.

CAPS United are looking to restart the second half of the season in the same manner they showed at the beginning of the term and keep alive their mission to mount a strong challenge for the championship.

“I think as a team we want to deliver better than what we did in the first round but we will be taking each game as it comes,” said Sibanda. The Battle of The Cities clash is the biggest game of the Week 16 fixtures that will mark the resumption of the title race.

Fixtures:
Tomorrow: Chicken Inn v Harare City (Barbourfields), How Mine v Border Strikers (Barbourfields), ZPC Kariba v Dynamos (Nyamhunga), Mutare City v Chapungu (Sakubva).

Sunday: Bulawayo City v FC Platinum (Luveve), Hwange v Tsholotsho (Colliery), Triangle v Ngezi (Gibbo), CAPS United v Highlanders (National Sports Stadium, 4pm)