DeMbare out to banish ghosts of Colliery

Sport
Zimbabwe’s three traditional football giants Dynamos, Highlanders and CAPS United will today face potential party spoilers in their respective Castle Lager Premier Soccer League matches.

Zimbabwe’s three traditional football giants Dynamos, Highlanders and CAPS United will today face potential party spoilers in their respective Castle Lager Premier Soccer League matches.

BY MICHAEL MADYIRA

Dynamos would be hoping to banish the ghost of the Colliery when they visit Hwange who appear to have fortressed their home for the Harare giants who last grabbed three points there in 2012.

Title favourites Triangle visit struggling Highlanders at Barbourfields in a match that could complicate the tenure of Bosso coach Bongani Mafu.

Triangle coach Kelvin Kaindu would be making a return to Barbourfields to face his former employers for the first time ever.

Of the three giants, it is CAPS United who face the sternest test against leaders Chicken Inn at the National Sports Stadium.

Chicken Inn appear jealous of the top spot they occupy despite having conceded the least number of goals in the league.

More attention this afternoon however appears to have fallen on Dynamos’ trip to the Colliery. Having last won at the Colliery in 2012, the following year they went down 4-2 to Hwange, before succumbing 1-0 last season.

But they were under former coach Kalisto Pasuwa then and now it is David Mandigora in charge. Mandigora’s assistant coach Tonderai Ndiraya was part of the squad that beat Hwange 2-0 at the Colliery three years ago, with Tawanda Mupasiri and Denver Mukamba scoring.

“Obviously, it has never been easy for us when we travel to Hwange,” Ndiraya said. “They have usually been the better side at home. We have to work extra hard to come there with three points. We are aware of what we will face there.”

By their standards of a traditional PSL team, Hwange are enduring a tough season which has placed them just two points above the relegation.

Having won just two matches this season, they appear as an easy ride on paper. “We are not reading much into Hwange’s form,” said Ndiraya.

“Everyone knows what they can do on their day, so we will never be complacent. That is what we have been telling the boys, not to relax.

Worrisome for Dynamos is their low strike rate which has seen them scoring 14 goals in as many matches. “We know we have a crisis upfront. That is one area we have been working on. We need goals,” Ndiraya said. Having withdrawn goalkeeper Tatenda Mukuruva from joining the national team, with Artwell Mukandi injured, Dynamos will enjoy the services of star midfielder Ronald Chitiyo.

But right-back Blessing Moyo and Carlos Rusere were with the national team in Comoros yesterday. Their opponents will be without coach Nation Dube who is also with the national team as assistant to Pasuwa while Mbebelo Njekwa will be in charge.

But with seasoned players like Gilbert Zulu, Farai Vimisayi, David Boriwondo, goalkeeper Timothy Sibanda, Gerald Ndlovu and Andrew Chuma, Hwange could upset the Harare giants.

At Barbourfields, Mafu will be out to end a three-game winless run against a Triangle side that has been playing an impressive brand of football which has equally produced results.

It could be opposite coach Kaindu’s moment to have the last laugh at Highlanders who parted ways with him last season when they were still within reach of the league title, seven games before season end.

“I know their coach could be familiar with most of my players, but the players themselves also know his type of play. This is a two-way thing,” said Mafu.

After last weekend’s controversial 3-2 defeat to Dynamos, Mafu said he “prays for Sunday’s referee to have the wisdom for right calls”.

Mafu has raised concerns about his defence which will this afternoon come up against Kaindu’s side who are the most scoring team so far with 30 goals in 14 games.

Kaindu feels it is an advantage for his side, but that does not guarantee they will easily breach the Bosso defence.

He has also admitted the matrix that comes from having called Barbourfields home before. “It is an advantage for us that we have scored many goals but the Highlanders defence can have a good day in office,” Kaindu said.

“I have coached most of Highlanders players and I have slight advantage in knowing how they play while they also enjoy the same positives of knowing my philosophy, which has however changed a bit.”

Another contest in the capital city would be leaders Chicken Inn’s visit to CAPS United who will be having new coach Mark Mathe taking charge of his second league game at the Harare giants.

Chicken Inn have visited the capital city twice so far this season, losing 2-0 to Harare City before humiliating Dynamos 3-0 at Rufaro.

Joey Antipas’ men have conceded the least number of goals, shipping in just eight, but they arrive in Harare without captain Danny Phiri, Lawrence Mhlanga and the league’s top goal-scorer Edmore Chirambadare who are with the national team in the Comoros.

Defender Devine Lunga and George Majika are also out injured.

“We will definitely miss these guys but that will push us to work extra hard. We are up against a good side and we will give them as much as they give us. Being at the top means everyone wants to beat us but we will try to avoid that because we are enjoying it up there,” said Antipas.

Inspiring for Chicken Inn could be that CAPS have collected more points on the road than at home.