Bosso face Caps United in post Kaindu era
By Bukhosi Mangena
Interim Highlanders coach Mark Mathe has warned his charges against complacency ahead of Sunday’s make-or-break Castle Lager Premier Soccer League tie against fellow championship hopefuls Caps United.
The match, which will be staged at the National Sports Stadium in the capital, will be Mathe’s first since his appointment as Bosso’s interim coach this week.
Incidentally, Mathe was also in charge of Highlanders when they hammered Caps United 4-0 in the sides’ first premiership clash at Barbourfields Stadium in Bulawayo in May.
At that time, Mathe was standing-in for then head coach Kevin Kaindu, who was attending a Uefa Coaching Course in the United Kingdom.
On Sunday, Mathe, who was thrown into the fray after Kaindu stepped down last week, will be hoping to turnaround the team’s fortunes as the Bulawayo giants have been struggling for consistency of late.
Highlanders are winless in their last three league games, having drawn with Buffaloes on September 3, before successive defeats by Harare City (0-1) on September 20 and ZPC Kariba (1-3) on September 28.
Those results, along with the 1-4 defeat by arch rivals Dynamos in the TM Pick n Pay Challenge Cup earlier last month, led to increased calls for Kaindu’s dismissal, with a section of the club’s fans turning violent in the aftermath of the home defeat by ZPC Kariba.
That incident, it seems, was the final straw for Zambian gaffer Kaindu, who then quit his post.
Now Mathe, who impressed in the few times he took charge of the team on the occasions Kaindu was absent earlier in the season, is officially in the hot seat and begins his tenure against a rival intent on vengeance.
Mathe is aware of the threat posed by Caps United and acknowledges his charges should not dwell on their apparent psychological advantage over an opponent they humiliated a little over five months ago.
“We need to go back to the drawing board and raise our game on Sunday. Of late, the team has been experiencing a lot of setbacks in terms of results and we have to work extra hard and be wary of complacency,” said Mathe.
“Of course we beat them (Caps) in our last game, but that will not have a bearing on the game. They have good players and they are playing well at the moment,” he said.
Bosso are sweating over the fitness of veteran striker Njabulo ‘Tshiki’ Ncube, who will have to pass a late fitness test if he is going to play tomorrow, and defender Webster Chingodza.
However, top goalscorer Charles Sibanda and winger Rahman Kutsanzira, who played a pivotal role in the 4-0 victory over Makepekepe last May, are expected to feature for the Bulawayo giants.
Meanwhile, Highlanders chief executive officer Ndumiso Gumede has thrown his weight behind Mathe, who has been handed the head coach’s post for the remainder of the season.
Bosso are currently in fourth position with 39 points from 24 games and are three behind tomorrow’s opponents Caps United and seven behind log leaders Dynamos.
With a maximum 18 points available in the remaining games, Highlanders still have a mathematical chance of winning a first league championship since 2006 and Gumede is confident Mathe’s men will get their title charge back on track tomorrow.
“We have hope and trust in him (Mathe) and I believe we will garner the maximum points,” said Gumede.
“We are departing for Harare at 0800hrs on Saturday (today) and we will arrive that afternoon. We will then do our training and final touches on the team,” he added.
After the Caps United clash, Highlanders complete their season with matches against Chicken Inn, Hwange, Chiredzi FC, Shabanie Mine and Chapungu. The Zimbabwe Mail
CASTLE LAGER PREMIER SOCCER LEAGUE
Matchday 25 fixtures
Saturday 11 October
Chicken Inn v Black Rhinos (Hartsfield)
Chiredzi FC v Bantu Rovers (Chishamiso)
ZPC Kariba v Triangle Utd (Gwanzura)
Harare City v FC Platinum (Rufaro)
Sunday 12 October
Buffaloes v Dynamos (Sakubva)
Caps United v Highlanders (NSS)
Shabanie Mine v Chapungu (Maglas)
Hwange v How Mine (Colliery)
