The Sunday Mail
Zimbabwe will this afternoon shift focus from the ongoing world football jamboree in Brazil to local vicinities when old foes Dynamos and Highlanders meet in a Castle Lager Premier Soccer League clash at the National Sports Stadium.
Kick off is 3pm and the cheapest ticket has been pegged at US$3.
Bosso, unbeaten after 11 rounds of fixtures, are perched on second position on the log with 22 points, three better than their hosts.
DeMbare have stuttered along this season and have already lost four, drawn once and won six of their 11 outings.
The champions, despite being three points off the pace, have been lifeless with their strike force their biggest letdown.
Bosso have not beaten DeMbare in seven years and they make the trip to the capital with a strong belief that the champions are there for the taking.
A victory for Bosso will see confidence levels sky rocket within their ranks after another good start to the season under coach Kelvin Kaindu.
Unlike their counterparts who go into the match on the back of a 0-1 defeat to Hwange, Kaindu’s men are unbeaten and picked a point at Gibbo after a 1-all draw with Triangle.
However, and much to the chagrin of their followers, Bosso have increasingly become notorious for faltering when it matters most.
Just last season they lost 0-1 at home to Dynamos in a match that was effectively the title decider.
Earlier in the season, they drew a match they ought to have won after choosing to showboat instead of putting the final dagger through their sprawling opponents.
Defender Partson Jaure scored a late equaliser and Bosso went back home mourning about the conduct of referee Norman Matemera, after seven minutes of injury time were played at Rufaro.
A lot has changed at both teams since their last meeting. George Chigova, a star performer in Dynamos 1-0 win at Barbourfields, has been lured by Supersport United. The onus to guard goal falls on Artwell Mukandi, who made a losing start as the new DeMbare number one when his team fell away to Hwange.
Dynamos have roped in the likes of Masimba Mambare, Tafadzwa Rusike, Ronald Chitiyo and Walter Mukanga, but the new boys, for a variety of reasons ranging from injury to poor form, are yet to make their mark at the champions.
It is only Chitiyo who has appeared to be close to his range and the diminutive former Monomotapa star is set to pull the strings from the middle of the park with the defensive prowess of Steven Alimenda affording him enough room to venture up front.
At Bosso, Ariel Sibanda has regained the number one jersey from Munyaradzi Diya and the Dynamos clash gives the goalkeeper another chance to show his worth.
Njabulo Ncube left for FC Platinum and in came Charles Sibanda from the opposite direction.
Sibanda is likely to lead the Bosso attack once again with Gabriel Nyoni and Welcome Ndiweni providing support.
The staging of the match at the National Sports has reportedly boosted confidence in the Bosso camp following their blues at Rufaro, DeMbare’s traditional home.
Today’s fixtures
Hwange v Chicken Inn (Colliery), How Mine v FC Platinum (Luveve), Shabanie Mine v ZPC Kariba (Maglas), Chiredzi v Caps United (Chishamiso), Dynamos v Highlanders (NSS – SS9)
