Sports / Local
Kaindu demands total commitment
13 Nov 2013 at 02:35hrs | Views
HIGHLANDERS FC coach Kelvin Kaindu has called for consistency from his players ahead of this afternoon's Castle Lager Premiership clash with Triangle at Barbourfields Stadium.
Bosso have been blowing hot and cold all season, a situation that has left them lying third on the log although the Bulawayo giants still have a good chance of landing the championship depending on the outcome of this afternoon's matches.
After booking a place in the final of a major cup tournament, the Mbada Diamonds Cup, Highlanders will be hoping to claim the scalp of Triangle FC and maintain their aspirations of a league and cup double.
Highlanders are third on the log with 48 points and trail log leaders Dynamos by a point.
Triangle, who come into this game with their spirits high following their 2-2 draw with Dynamos in their last league match, are sixth on the log with 39 points.
Highlanders and Triangle have scored the most number of Premiership goals, 41 and a goals' galore cannot be ruled out.
The Zambian expatriate Kaindu, who saw his charges book a place in the Mbada Diamonds Cup final after beating championship contenders Harare City 5-3 after a penalty shootout at Mandava last Saturday, is aware of the damage that their opponents can cause.
The last time the two teams met was in the Mbada Diamonds Cup first round tie which Bosso won 3-2 getting their goals from Njabulo Ncube and Gabriel Nyoni who scored a brace while Triangle scored through Pasca Manhanga and Charles Makoto.
Today, Bosso will be without Ncube who is serving a suspension after picking up a red card during his team's Week 26 pulsating encounter against Dynamos.
They are also fretting over the availability of some of their key players like Innocent Mapuranga, Bruce Kangwa, Hillary Madzivanyika and Dumisani "Fazo" Ndlovu who picked up knocks during their Mbada Diamonds Cup game.
Speaking after his team's training session at White City Stadium yesterday, Kaindu, who strongly believes that their championship hopes are alive, said consistency is key to their ambition of ending a trophy drought.
"At this stage, there is no fixture that you can go out and say this one is easy and that is why you need to have a balanced team and be consistent with your performance. However, it must be noted that injuries affect consistency that is why I am saying there is a need to balance the squad and field players that will give you 100 percent than to risk injured guys.
"I have a squad of 30 players and they are all here to play. The good thing is that the players who have come in have managed to do well in those positions and this is coming in handy for us in the second half where we are chasing a league and cup double in a fixture congested calendar," said the Zambian mentor who has taken the flak for his failure to field a consistent starting 11 from the beginning of the season.
He said the injured players were recovering well and were expected to go for a late fitness test yesterday evening.
Having already booked a place in the final of the country's richest soccer tournament, morale in the Bosso camp is high.
Peter "Rio" Moyo, young Knox Mutizwa and Bruce Tshuma, who missed the weekend action against Harare City, might be part of the squad that faces Triangle this afternoon.
Tshuma might be a direct replacement for right back Lawson Nkomo who had a nightmarish performance in the Mbada Diamonds Cup semi-final.
Impressive Munyaradzi Diya is expected to feature in the first 11 and so are Eric Mudzingwa, Mthulisi Maphosa, Nyoni, Bhekimpilo "Bhaka" Ncube who was on target at the weekend and Simon Munawa.
The Lowveld-based Triangle FC have been playing well of late with their coach Gishon Ntini taking a dig at his opponents saying "there is nothing special about Highlanders."
Ntini, who has seen his team losing once in their last 15 Premiership matches - a 1-3 loss to Buffaloes - believes they can inflict defeat on the Bulawayo giants.
"We prepared well for the match, there is nothing special about Highlanders and our sole mission is to collect maximum points and we believe we can achieve that, nothing is impossible," said Ntini.
Tough as teak defender Norman Togara who missed their 2-2 draw against Dynamos is back in the squad and is one of the key players that are expected to lead from the back.
Some of Triangle's key players include defenders Brian Juwayeyi, Blessing Chimwamuchere and William Mapfumo, former Caps United's David Sengu, Limited Chikafa, dribbling wizard Manhanga and striker Misheck Mburayi.
Fixtures
Today: Dynamos v Shabanie Mine (Rufaro), Highlanders v Triangle United (Barbourfields), Tripple v Chicken Inn (Dulibadzimu), FC Platinum v Black Mambas (Mandava), Hwange v Buffaloes (Colliery), Caps United v Black Rhinos (National Sports Stadium), Harare City v Motor Action (Gwanzura)
Wednesday: Monomotapa v How Mine (Gwanzura)
Bosso have been blowing hot and cold all season, a situation that has left them lying third on the log although the Bulawayo giants still have a good chance of landing the championship depending on the outcome of this afternoon's matches.
After booking a place in the final of a major cup tournament, the Mbada Diamonds Cup, Highlanders will be hoping to claim the scalp of Triangle FC and maintain their aspirations of a league and cup double.
Highlanders are third on the log with 48 points and trail log leaders Dynamos by a point.
Triangle, who come into this game with their spirits high following their 2-2 draw with Dynamos in their last league match, are sixth on the log with 39 points.
Highlanders and Triangle have scored the most number of Premiership goals, 41 and a goals' galore cannot be ruled out.
The Zambian expatriate Kaindu, who saw his charges book a place in the Mbada Diamonds Cup final after beating championship contenders Harare City 5-3 after a penalty shootout at Mandava last Saturday, is aware of the damage that their opponents can cause.
The last time the two teams met was in the Mbada Diamonds Cup first round tie which Bosso won 3-2 getting their goals from Njabulo Ncube and Gabriel Nyoni who scored a brace while Triangle scored through Pasca Manhanga and Charles Makoto.
Today, Bosso will be without Ncube who is serving a suspension after picking up a red card during his team's Week 26 pulsating encounter against Dynamos.
They are also fretting over the availability of some of their key players like Innocent Mapuranga, Bruce Kangwa, Hillary Madzivanyika and Dumisani "Fazo" Ndlovu who picked up knocks during their Mbada Diamonds Cup game.
Speaking after his team's training session at White City Stadium yesterday, Kaindu, who strongly believes that their championship hopes are alive, said consistency is key to their ambition of ending a trophy drought.
"At this stage, there is no fixture that you can go out and say this one is easy and that is why you need to have a balanced team and be consistent with your performance. However, it must be noted that injuries affect consistency that is why I am saying there is a need to balance the squad and field players that will give you 100 percent than to risk injured guys.
He said the injured players were recovering well and were expected to go for a late fitness test yesterday evening.
Having already booked a place in the final of the country's richest soccer tournament, morale in the Bosso camp is high.
Peter "Rio" Moyo, young Knox Mutizwa and Bruce Tshuma, who missed the weekend action against Harare City, might be part of the squad that faces Triangle this afternoon.
Tshuma might be a direct replacement for right back Lawson Nkomo who had a nightmarish performance in the Mbada Diamonds Cup semi-final.
Impressive Munyaradzi Diya is expected to feature in the first 11 and so are Eric Mudzingwa, Mthulisi Maphosa, Nyoni, Bhekimpilo "Bhaka" Ncube who was on target at the weekend and Simon Munawa.
The Lowveld-based Triangle FC have been playing well of late with their coach Gishon Ntini taking a dig at his opponents saying "there is nothing special about Highlanders."
Ntini, who has seen his team losing once in their last 15 Premiership matches - a 1-3 loss to Buffaloes - believes they can inflict defeat on the Bulawayo giants.
"We prepared well for the match, there is nothing special about Highlanders and our sole mission is to collect maximum points and we believe we can achieve that, nothing is impossible," said Ntini.
Tough as teak defender Norman Togara who missed their 2-2 draw against Dynamos is back in the squad and is one of the key players that are expected to lead from the back.
Some of Triangle's key players include defenders Brian Juwayeyi, Blessing Chimwamuchere and William Mapfumo, former Caps United's David Sengu, Limited Chikafa, dribbling wizard Manhanga and striker Misheck Mburayi.
Fixtures
Today: Dynamos v Shabanie Mine (Rufaro), Highlanders v Triangle United (Barbourfields), Tripple v Chicken Inn (Dulibadzimu), FC Platinum v Black Mambas (Mandava), Hwange v Buffaloes (Colliery), Caps United v Black Rhinos (National Sports Stadium), Harare City v Motor Action (Gwanzura)
Wednesday: Monomotapa v How Mine (Gwanzura)
Source - chronicle
