Fading Bulawayo giants Highlanders have an opportunity to bring back some respectability to the institution as they step into Zvishavane’s Mandava cauldron for an EasyCall Cup quarter final duel against red-hot FC Platinum this afternoon. BY MUKUDZEI CHINGWERE
Surely, the mighty have fallen. Who would have thought that a big team like Highlanders would publicly cry foul over being drawn to play away from home in a cup tie?
Media reports this week suggested that the Bosso hierarchy declared that they would play their NetOne sponsored cup tie under protest for the reason that Bulawayo has never had an opportunity to host a NetOne-sponsored cup match.
However, Highlanders coach Cosmas “Tsano” Zulu distanced the technical department from complaints made by the club leadership that they will be playing the fixture under protest.
“That is not a technical issue, it is a policy issue and the chief executive deals with those issues. For me, I just prepare my team for the game,” said Zulu.
Highlanders’ fall from being fierce opponents to an ordinary side has been summed up by club legend Zulu, who believes his side comes into the encounter as underdogs.
“I am happy we are going into this match as underdogs. No one expects us to beat FC Platinum who have been playing very well this season. We are going into this match without any pressure, but we will do our best to get a positive result,” Zulu said.
Bosso have found the going tough in the league and are languishing in an unfamiliar ninth position, 19 points behind log leaders Chicken Inn.
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FC Platinum are, however, hoping to pile more misery on the traditional giants of local football.
The miners are on second position in the league, two points behind log leaders Chicken Inn and will be waiting on the wings to pounce for the title if leaders Chicken Inn flounder along the way.
The Zvishavane-based side is yet to taste defeat in the league in 18 topflight matches on the trot, but head coach Norman Mapeza prefers not to dwell on the impressive league run.
“It is a tournament in which we hope to do well. Cup games and the league are always different. The most important thing for us is to play well and we hope for a positive result,” said Mapeza.
He was, however, surprised that Highlanders are crying foul over the staging of the game at Mandava.
“All the seeded teams will be playing at home, all the teams in the top four last season are at home, not only us. I don’t know where this fuss is coming from; it is the rules of the tournament,” said Mapeza.
“For us, it doesn’t matter where we play, even in Bulawayo or Chiredzi or anywhere, we would have prepared for the game”.
In his armoury, Zulu has the offensive leftback Bruce Kangwa who can stretch the opponent defense with pace and his speed will be much-needed this afternoon.
Forward Nox Mutizwa, who is usually clinical in front of goal, will lead the hunt.
The usually error-prone Felix Chindungwe will have to be very alert against a dangerous attack of the likes of Brian Muzondiwa and Obrey Chirwa to give Bosso a chance.
Mapeza will also be relying on his midfield sentinel Gerald “General” Takwara to win the midfield battle and swing the contest to FC Platinum’s advantage.
Takwara’s midfield prowess has drawn comparisons from yesteryear greats like Mapeza himself, the late Benjamin Nkonjera and Tinashe Nengomasha.
