The Sunday Mail
Ishemunyoro Chingwere Sports Reporter
THE Highlanders camp is disturbed by reports that star striker Charles Sibanda is fed up with life at the club and wants to move to bitter rivals Dynamos when his contract lapses at the end of the year. Sibanda, the 2010 Soccer Star of the Year and league winner with Motor Action, believes the Bosso faithful and executive do not appreciate his efforts and has been stalling on signing a new contract.
Uncertainty over the forward’s future is the last thing Highlanders need ahead of a clash with third-placed ZPC Kariba at Hartsfield today.
Coach Kelvin Kaindu has been told that only winning the Premiership will save his job, but the Zambian insisted yesterday he was not under pressure.
“Everyone is entitled to their own opinion and I will not blame anybody who thinks we have not done justice to the cause of the team.
“I am, however, not under any pressure, but will continue doing my job to the best of my abilities,” the Bosso gaffer said.
On reports that Sibanda was unsettled, Kaindu referred the issue to club bosses, whom he said were better positioned to comment on the status of want-away players.
Efforts to get a comment from club chief executive Ndumiso Gumede were fruitless, as the veteran administrator said he was attending a funeral.
ZPC Kariba, who trail leaders Dynamos by two points, are not reading much into the reported instability in the Bosso camp, with their coach Saul Chaminuka hinting that he would settle for a point.
“We know they are under pressure and desperate for the title and thus will obviously put up a very big fight for the three points. Unlike them, we are not chasing the title, but our motivation comes from the fact that we are just not used to losing.
“We are going there (Hartsfield) to pick something at the end of the match. The primary target is to avoid defeat, but if we can better it by winning, then that will be great,” he said.
Both sides come into the match searching for their 11th win of the season.
They each have one victory less than Dynamos, who have won 12 of their 23 matches this season and lead the log as it enters the home stretch.
Surprise package ZPC have been grinding out results, losing just twice, but worryingly for Chaminuka, both defeats have come in the business half of the season and questions are being asked about the Premiership débutantes’ ability to stand the heat as the title race heads for the wire.
Fixtures (all games start at 3pm unless otherwise stated):
Today: Dynamos v Shabanie (Rufaro) 2pm; Triangle v Harare City (Gibbo); Highlanders v ZPC Kariba (Hartsfield)
Tomorrow: Bantu Rovers v Hwange (Hartsfield).
