Augustine Hwata and Eddie Chikamhi
CAPS United and Highlanders clash in the headline-grabbing Castle Lager Premiership showdown of the weekend tomorrow but the fortunes of champions Dynamos and surprise packages ZPC Kariba will be followed closely.
Saul Chaminuka’s ZPC Kariba can go top of the table, this afternoon, if they keep their momentum and beat Triangle at Gwanzura.
Tomorrow, the Big Boys plunge into action with CAPS United hosting Highlanders at the National Sports Stadium while DeMbare have a very tough away assignment against Moses Chunga’s Buffaloes at Sakubva.
Bosso will be under caretaker coach Mark Mathe, who has been given the freedom to lead the team until the end of the season, after the acrimonious departure of his old boss, Kelvin Kaindu, following a depressing run of results.
Mathe, who was in charge of Highlanders when they hammered CAPS United 4-0 in the reverse league encounter at Barbourfields with Kaindu boosting his coaching credentials in the United Kingdom, refuses to entertain views that his team is out of the race.
“We are coming into the game with a positive attitude. What happened was in the past and CAPS United are a good side with a good coach in Taurai Mangwiro and also good players,” said Mathe.
“They are gunning for the championship and we are also in the race. So there is no room for complacency and that’s what I have been saying to the players.
“We should not take any chances at this stage of the season.”
Bosso were hammered 1-3 by ZPC Kariba in their last match at Hartsfield and will be hoping that unsettled striker Charles Sibanda can find his scoring touch amid reports that he wants to leave at the end of the season.
Matches between Bosso and CAPS United have always been explosive and this one is unlikely to be any different.
One of the outstanding Green Machine players has been midfielder Tendai Samanja, who believes that they learnt their lessons from the thrashing they received at Barbourfields.
“We are prepared for the game and everyone is ready to play. The weather is hot but we have been taking a lot of fluids like water and we hope to do our best,” said Samanja.
“Competition for places is intense as everyone wants to play. It would be an honour to be just in the team now.
“In the match at BF, we conceded goals in the fourth or fifth minute and Highlanders increased the lead in the seventh minute.
“Then, it was at the start of the season and some of the youngsters succumbed to pressure. We were playing away and we failed to recover.
“I think the players have now gained confidence and everyone is pushing really hard. We are all happy and we just need to keep fighting hard until the end of the season.”
Big centre-back Stephen Makatuka, who returns after missing the 1-0 win over Black Rhinos, will have another partner at the heart of the defence with Malawian international George Nyirenda unavailable because of suspension.
A big crowd is expected at the giant stadium and the CAPS United leadership has been calling on their fans to rally behind the team after a violent group turned against coach Mangwiro at Rufaro following a goalless draw against How Mine at Rufaro.
The Green Machine are unbeaten in six league matches, stretching back to their controversial 1-2 loss at the hands of Hwange at the Colliery, in the first week of August.
They have beaten Chiredzi 3-0, held Shabanie to a goalless draw at Maglas, beat Chapungu 1-0, were held to a goalless draw by Bantu Rovers and How Mine and beat Black Rhinos 1-0 at Rimuka.
The CAPS United fans will also keeping tabs about what will be happening at Sakubva, where DeMbare take on Sakubva, praying that the Glamour Boys drop points.
Chunga, who will be a CAPS darling for 90 minutes tomorrow, yesterday said Pasuwa, who played under him at Dynamos and also worked as his assistant at the Green Machine, is more like a younger brother to him.
“It’s a match that is always on the calendar for the people of Mutare,” said Chunga
“Everyone here is looking forward to this match. It’s very exciting to play Dynamos and I think we are all geared up for the game as we hope to get maximum points at home.
“In terms of fitness we are okay since we don’t have any injuries or suspensions. But since our opponents are fighting for the championship, it promises to be a tough match.
“Pasuwa is a like a brother to me. He passed through my hands and it’s good that we meet again in a professional league match. This is not the first time that I have played against him, though.”
However, Buffaloes shocked DeMbare in the first league meeting this year at the National Sports Stadium when Roy Mwenga scored the only goal of the match just before the half time break.
Pasuwa said he had a lot of respect for Chunga.
“Bambo is one of our seniors in terms of playing and coaching. We respect him for that but we have to wait and see what happens after the 90 minutes and then we talk,” said Pasuwa.
“He is at work there and I am also doing my work so we have to set aside the issue of brotherhood and concentrate on the game. Work comes first.”
Goalkeeper Artwell Mukandi is not available again for this match with a hip injury he picked in a league match against Shabanie Mine at Rufaro a fortnight ago.
Midfielder Devon Chafa has also been ruled out with injury while Anesu Gondo has been suspended for picking three yellow cards.
However, defender Augustine Mbara has tipped the Harare giants to bounce back from the disappointment of their loss in the NetOne OneWallet Cup final.
“The Triangle game is now water under the bridge. What I have liked most about my teammates is that they have all put it behind them and we are now concentrating on the job at hand.
“Buffaloes are a good side. Right now, in our league, there is no team that can be regarded as a small team. All teams are a threat, especially to us Dynamos. So we are not looking forward to an easy assignment in Mutare.”