Bosso take on Tsholotsho hamstrung by injuries

By Lovemore Dube

BULAWAYO – Highlanders FC coach Bongani Mafu believes the latest Matabeleland derby pitting his side and Tsholotsho FC at Barbourfields Stadium tomorrow will be an exciting game.

“It will be an exciting game. They started with a bang winning their debut match in the league. We started on the back foot so there is all to fight for,” said Mafu as he declared they would take the game to their opponents.

“We will go at them. We know following their win they are still on cloud nine while we are an enraged bull. However, for us it is going to be more like any other game that we have to win as Highlanders”.

Bosso go into the match hamstrung by injuries with strikers Ozias Zibande, Simba Sithole, Rahman Kutsanzira and Knox Mutizwa all out.

Midfielder Mthulisi Maphosa and young dribbling sensation Godfrey “Baba Jukwa” Makaruse are now back in the fold and available for selection.

Mafu, whose charges went 0-2 down to ZPC Kariba in Harare and play a successive away game, said the mood at training was very positive.

“The boys were fabulous, they worked very positively and quite hard during the week,” said the Bosso gaffer.

Mafu will have his two children — Alvin and Natasha — who arrived from the United Kingdom this week, at Emagumeni to watch the match and he would certainly cherish a win in front of them.

Tsholotsho FC, seeking to be the second team from a rural area to win silverware after St Paul’s, Musami in the 1960s, got themselves a morale boosting start to the season by beating star-studded Harare City 1-0 with Simbarashe Gorogodyo scoring the club’s first Premiership goal.

It would be folly for any club to underestimate their potency despite being novices with no big names in their ranks. That element of being the David in the centuries old biblical story could just be the right tonic to ride on for the Zhwane boys.

However, complacency and rave reviews they received during the week could turn out to be their biggest undoing.

With last Saturday’s defeat, Highlanders were left with some work to do while Tsholotsho’s FC win might have created an impression that they are cut for it.

Nonetheless, an exciting game with lots of goalmouth action looks on the cards.

Highlanders will count on Obadiah Tarumbwa, who has shown he still has his old touch.

His leadership and guidance in attack where he will be partnered by the young and promising Thomas Chideu will be key to the outcome of the match.

With Njabulo Nyoni undone again by a losing stint in between the goalposts, Mafu and goalkeepers’ trainer Peter Nkomo could turn to Ariel “Mangoye” Sibanda who often has a safe pair of hands.

On the wingbacks, Mafu could have a headache as both Honest Moyo and Webster Chingodza have looked uncertain, more like work in progress. There is so much quality at the heart of defence and midfield to choose from tomorrow.

Could the Tsholotsho FC midfield of Gorogodyo, Ocient Ncube, Kriess Chitiyo and Butholezwe Ncube repeat last week’s heroics against Harare and stop Highlanders?

More will be expected from Nixon Gama and Kudzanai Machazane who will spearhead the Tsholotsho strikeforce.

Hordes of fans are expected to drive from Tsholotsho for the match. A visit to the business centre on Monday found people celebrating 72 hours after the epic Harare City win and many said they would certainly drive to Bulawayo.

“It’s a game not to miss. We are certainly coming for the match, there is no doubt about that,” said Fortune Mvundla of Ntulane Line, about 20km from Tsholotsho.

Chicken Inn, still smarting from their 2-1 win over newcomers Flame Lily, will be eager to continue with their good start to the season. They are away to the Taurai Mangwiro and Mkhuphali Masuku coached Harare City.

The match is set for Rufaro Stadium this afternoon. A key factor could turn out to be familiarity with the artificial surface which the Harare team is used to.

Joey Antipas made some exciting signings during the off-season and will count on the duo of Mitchelle Katsvairo and Edmore Chirambadare finding the back of the net again. They were on target last weekend and seem to have a good understanding of each other and should be key elements in the fastfoods chain sponsored side.

How Mine, who had a sluggish start in a not so inspiring draw against Chapungu, would be hoping to redeem themselves when they take on Dongo Sawmills in Rusape’s Vengere Stadium.

The goldminers’ chairman Mlondolozi Nkomo used the cheque book and it is still to be seen whether it was to good effect as last Sunday’s performance did little to show there was abundant talent at the club.

The absence of Nyasha Mukumbi and Gilbert Banda in central defence forced Luke Masomere to push enterprising Menard Mupera to a marshalling role. While he did it with aplomb, his commanding stature in attack was missed.

Evans Chikwaikwai is the biggest name at Dongo and is now playing in defence having carved his name as a prolific goalscorer, a feat that earned him contracts in Mozambique and South Africa.

Caps United will play host to FC Platinum at Rufaro Stadium tomorrow. The game has probably come at a bad time for Norman Mapeza who would have preferred an easier workout to try better combinations for his biggest match at the platinum miners — the second leg of the Caf Confederation Cup first round against Young Africans next week.

His charges were involved in a 2-2 draw against Dongo in the opening weekend of the Castle Lager Premiership.

Caps United were 2-1 winners at Whawha with man of the moment Roderick “The Prince” Mutuma scoring a brace.

Whenever Dynamos are in the region, the earth shakes.

The country’s most successful football club will be in the Midlands capital, Gweru tomorrow for a date with Chapungu.

Dynamos gored Buffaloes 3-0 in their season opener and are favourites for a routine three points at Ascot Stadium.

John Nyikadzino, the Chapungu coach is aware what a positive result would do to his resume.

The match of the week could turn out to be the all-prisons and correctional services derby pitting Flame Lilly and Whawha.

Hwange will be eager to erase memories of their disastrous Triangle outing where they were whacked 5-2 when they host ZPC Kariba.

The availability of Nation Dube who was with the Young Warriors last week is expected to steady the ship. The Chronicle