Opinion / Columnist
Highlanders are on their own now
31 Aug 2012 at 05:33hrs | Views
HIGHLANDERS are on their own now, they do not need anybody to help them win the championship.
As it stands now with Motor Action who have always been their bogey side, they need mental strength.
This is going to show if they are serious championship contenders because from my knowledge and experience, if Dynamos start coming the way they are doing, they can actually win.
Highlanders will have to win their own matches especially the next four to five games.
Don't forget Monomotapa have won the championship before, they are dark horses in this race, they can be considered in the equation if Dynamos and Highlanders fail to stamp their authority in the next four to five games.
I am not saying this because I support Highlanders, considering I am one of the longest serving technical staff, seven draws is enough now, Highlanders must start winning games if the team has to win the championship. The next five games must all be wins.
Dynamos has won the championship since Independence the highest number of times, even from 1962. With that kind of record you cannot take them lightly. Highlanders has to dig deep, they have only won it seven times.
Without trying to actually tell Highlanders who to play, Kelvin Kaindu has to come out with strikers who can get goals for him otherwise this championship cannot be won.
The advice I can give to Highlanders is that the mental strength of the players must be at its best.
The desire to win must be stronger that the fear to lose.
The unbeaten run will not be good enough if Highlanders fail to win the championship. Highlanders have not won the championship since 2006 and there is every reason to look forward to Kaindu making a difference this season and what raises hope is that he has already shown that he is capable. The Highlanders family has waited for too long for the title and they really need it.
Kaindu has won it before with Zanaco in Zambia, its not anything new to him but it will be new now because he is Highlanders coach.
Bosso must not tackle the next four to five games with the thought of Dynamos being on their neck.
Highlanders should not think about Dynamos, they should say, "We are Highlanders and we are going to win this championship".
Dynamos and Monomotapa are in it. Monomotapa who are third with 36 points, seven behind leaders Highlanders cannot be underrated they have won it before, they are dark horses, they will have a say in this race.
With Highlanders taking on Motor Action at Barbourfields Stadium, Dynamos are at home to Gunners at Rufaro Stadium on Sunday.
This is where I actually say Dynamos players' ability to withstand pressure cannot be underrated when it comes to this stage of the championship.
They infact proved this last year when FC Platinum who had a 12-point lead started dropping points and DeMbare started winning theirs. It boils to the next four to five games. It will take a strong Gunners in terms of approach to the game but to be honest I cannot see a Dynamos defeat at Rufaro Stadium. Of course miracles happen in football and in the event of Gunners winning, it will be a very big miracle at Rufaro.
Black Mambas, Caps United, Gunners, Hardbody, Blue Rangers and Quelaton are all fighting relegation. The Castle Lager Premiership relegates four teams. I see these teams all fighting very hard to survive and it would be sad to see a big team like Caps United go down.
Caps' away match to Buffaloes is a must win if they are to rekindle hopes of survival in the elite league.
Hwange and Harare City can also be caught in this relegation fight. Anything can happen towards the end of the season and indications are pointing to a situation of a dog eat dog affair.
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Zulu is a former Bushbucks, Eastlands, Olympics, Zimbabwe Saints and Highlanders bustling striker nicknamed "Thunderboots" after the late Peter Nyama because of his shooting prowess in the 1970s.
He has coached AmaZulu, Highlanders, Railstars and Zimbabwe Saints in Bulawayo and had a stint with the Zimbabwe Under-17 team.
As it stands now with Motor Action who have always been their bogey side, they need mental strength.
This is going to show if they are serious championship contenders because from my knowledge and experience, if Dynamos start coming the way they are doing, they can actually win.
Highlanders will have to win their own matches especially the next four to five games.
Don't forget Monomotapa have won the championship before, they are dark horses in this race, they can be considered in the equation if Dynamos and Highlanders fail to stamp their authority in the next four to five games.
I am not saying this because I support Highlanders, considering I am one of the longest serving technical staff, seven draws is enough now, Highlanders must start winning games if the team has to win the championship. The next five games must all be wins.
Dynamos has won the championship since Independence the highest number of times, even from 1962. With that kind of record you cannot take them lightly. Highlanders has to dig deep, they have only won it seven times.
Without trying to actually tell Highlanders who to play, Kelvin Kaindu has to come out with strikers who can get goals for him otherwise this championship cannot be won.
The advice I can give to Highlanders is that the mental strength of the players must be at its best.
The desire to win must be stronger that the fear to lose.
The unbeaten run will not be good enough if Highlanders fail to win the championship. Highlanders have not won the championship since 2006 and there is every reason to look forward to Kaindu making a difference this season and what raises hope is that he has already shown that he is capable. The Highlanders family has waited for too long for the title and they really need it.
Bosso must not tackle the next four to five games with the thought of Dynamos being on their neck.
Highlanders should not think about Dynamos, they should say, "We are Highlanders and we are going to win this championship".
Dynamos and Monomotapa are in it. Monomotapa who are third with 36 points, seven behind leaders Highlanders cannot be underrated they have won it before, they are dark horses, they will have a say in this race.
With Highlanders taking on Motor Action at Barbourfields Stadium, Dynamos are at home to Gunners at Rufaro Stadium on Sunday.
This is where I actually say Dynamos players' ability to withstand pressure cannot be underrated when it comes to this stage of the championship.
They infact proved this last year when FC Platinum who had a 12-point lead started dropping points and DeMbare started winning theirs. It boils to the next four to five games. It will take a strong Gunners in terms of approach to the game but to be honest I cannot see a Dynamos defeat at Rufaro Stadium. Of course miracles happen in football and in the event of Gunners winning, it will be a very big miracle at Rufaro.
Black Mambas, Caps United, Gunners, Hardbody, Blue Rangers and Quelaton are all fighting relegation. The Castle Lager Premiership relegates four teams. I see these teams all fighting very hard to survive and it would be sad to see a big team like Caps United go down.
Caps' away match to Buffaloes is a must win if they are to rekindle hopes of survival in the elite league.
Hwange and Harare City can also be caught in this relegation fight. Anything can happen towards the end of the season and indications are pointing to a situation of a dog eat dog affair.
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Zulu is a former Bushbucks, Eastlands, Olympics, Zimbabwe Saints and Highlanders bustling striker nicknamed "Thunderboots" after the late Peter Nyama because of his shooting prowess in the 1970s.
He has coached AmaZulu, Highlanders, Railstars and Zimbabwe Saints in Bulawayo and had a stint with the Zimbabwe Under-17 team.
Source - zimpapers
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