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Bosso eye Mbada Cup solace

by Sports Reporter
26 Nov 2013 at 01:06hrs | Views
BULAWAYO giants Highlanders Football Club who missed the Castle Lager Premiership by a whisker on Sunday are seeking solace in the Mbada Diamonds Cup. Bosso are in the final of the country's richest football tournament and will play How Mine at Barbourfields Stadium on Saturday.

Highlanders players did not take a day off yesterday as they went for a two-hour training session at White City Stadium preparing for the final whose winners will take home $130 000, almost double the amount that Dynamos got for defending their Castle Lager Premiership crown.

A disappointed Highlanders coach Kelvin Kaindu said they have to shift their focus to the Mbada Diamonds Cup and challenged his players to develop a strong character against How Mine.

The gold miners beat Highlanders twice this season in league matches. Kaindu has been at Highlanders for two seasons and is yet to win anything on the domestic scene and the Zambian expatriate wants to win a piece of silverware for Bosso.

"We blew it in the Premiership race and now it's time to direct our efforts to the Mbada Diamonds Cup. The prospects of lifting the trophy are high and this being the last silverware, we just have to do everything right to make sure that we win it for ourselves and the supporters who have been eagerly waiting to see us winning something.

"Statistics favour How Mine since they have been a better side and it won't be easy but we have to fight.

"We lacked mental character in the championship race after creating many chances but we cannot let this one (Mbada Diamonds Cup) slip away from us," said Kaindu.

He is hoping that they will get their act together in the competition. On their way to the final, Highlanders beat Triangle 3-2 in the first round, went on to knock out Buffaloes 3-0 at Mucheke Stadium before dumping Harare City out of the race in the semi-final that was played at Mandava Stadium.

If they are to reciprocate Sunday's performance against Shabanie Mine, Highlanders look set to disappoint How Mine.

The miners booked their final place in style as they narrowly edged Black Rhinos 1-0 in the first round, two-time Mbada Diamonds Cup winners Dynamos 1-0 and then beat Caps United after penalty shootout in a drama-filled semi-final at the National Sports Stadium.

The break-in into How Mine's dressing room by Caps United marshals in that pulsating semi-final could arguably be the major highlight of the competition as the Harare club found burning candles which were surrounded by bottles with some liquid stuff.

How Mine will be hoping to complete a treble over Bosso with the miners' gaffer Philani "Beefy" Ncube saying they are looking forward to the encounter.

Source - chronicle
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