Sports / Local
Bosso, Dembare in blood-and-thunder battle
05 Dec 2015 at 07:40hrs | Views
OVER the past few years, Dynamos may have dominated their rivalry with old foes Highlanders but the Bulawayo giants have issued a stern warning that tables could turn tomorrow.
The two giants meet in the semi-finals of the NetOne Easycall Cup at Barbourfields.
Highlanders are hoping to capitalise on the confusion in their opponents' camp after the Glamour Boys' preparations were rocked by the ban imposed on their key strikers, Rodreck Mutruma and Takesure Chinyama, by the Premier Soccer League Disciplinary Committee.
Dembare had threatened to withdraw from the tournament but the situation was resolved following a meeting between the club's leadership and the PSL chairman Twine Phiri.
However, Highlanders coach Soma-Phiri yesterday said Bosso were not likely to be distracted by what has been going on in Harare.
Instead, he said they were concentrating on their own game and were looking to build on the momentum they had built after striking a rich vein of form late in the season.
"It's always a hurdle playing Dynamos. We have always struggled to beat them over the years so we expect this to be another tough match," said Soma-Phiri.
"But with the way we have prepared, I think they will need to be at their very best to beat us.
"We have been getting the support from the leadership.
"Our supporters are also looking forward to this match. It's good these semi-finals were brought to Bulawayo and we don't want to disappoint them.
"They need to be responsible. I am happy we have senior players like Eric Mudzingwa and Felix Chindungwe, they also need to be responsible enough.
"Sometimes you don't need a coach or anyone to motivate you. These guys know the rivalry between the teams. So they know what needs to be done.
"We have had a good preparation except for a few injuries. So we should have our strongest team for this match."
Although Highlanders have largely played in the shadows of Dembare in the last decade, this year they scored an important victory in the ZNA Charities Cup final where they won 1-0 courtesy of a solitary strike by veteran Obadiah Tarumbwa at Rufaro.
Highlanders are expecting their influential forward Knox Mutizwa to return from South Africa this afternoon.
The youthful forward, who won this year's Golden Boot with 14 goals, was on trials at Bidvest Wits.
"I am sure they are arranging something down there in South Africa so that he should be here on time. I hope he will be in a good frame of mind.
"Hopefully, he will not be carried away with the prospects of getting a deal in South Africa and you know he is also excited being the Golden Boot winner and being among the Soccer Stars.
"Some of these things get into their heads and in the end you may lose focus. You always need to be careful with these youngsters. So we will monitor him," said Soma-Phiri.
Dynamos coach Tonderai Ndiraya said the Glamour Boys, who lost the league title to Chicken Inn, were looking to end the season on a positive note.
He said DeMbare were focused on winning their only silverware of the season but they will need to overcome the big obstacle
The Glamour Boys may be forced to play without their midfield hardman Stephen Alimenda, striker Kelvin Bulaji and defensive pillar Sydney Linyama.
"We want to win this Cup, as much as Highlanders, CAPS United or Chicken Inn. We remain positive we want to win silverware this season and I hope we will go there with a positive mind and try as much as possible to work hard so that we get into the final," said coach Tonderai Ndiraya.
"But we are expecting a very tight contest, a very tough match. We have been having a good run in the league and the Cups as well but such things do not count when you play Highlanders.
"Remember we lost to the same side in the ZNA Commander Shield final but we are going to take confidence from the fact that we have played them several times and won, especially at Barbourfields.
"Some people call it our home ground and we just hope it gives us an advantage and help us progress to the next round the tournament. We want to fight so that we get into the final of this tournament."
Dembare are also hoping to field their two forwards Chinyama and Mutuma who were last week banned four games each after being found guilty by the PSL Disciplinary Committee.
The club appealed against the decision.
Midfielder Masimba Mambare is also available after recovering from injury.
The two giants meet in the semi-finals of the NetOne Easycall Cup at Barbourfields.
Highlanders are hoping to capitalise on the confusion in their opponents' camp after the Glamour Boys' preparations were rocked by the ban imposed on their key strikers, Rodreck Mutruma and Takesure Chinyama, by the Premier Soccer League Disciplinary Committee.
Dembare had threatened to withdraw from the tournament but the situation was resolved following a meeting between the club's leadership and the PSL chairman Twine Phiri.
However, Highlanders coach Soma-Phiri yesterday said Bosso were not likely to be distracted by what has been going on in Harare.
Instead, he said they were concentrating on their own game and were looking to build on the momentum they had built after striking a rich vein of form late in the season.
"It's always a hurdle playing Dynamos. We have always struggled to beat them over the years so we expect this to be another tough match," said Soma-Phiri.
"But with the way we have prepared, I think they will need to be at their very best to beat us.
"We have been getting the support from the leadership.
"Our supporters are also looking forward to this match. It's good these semi-finals were brought to Bulawayo and we don't want to disappoint them.
"They need to be responsible. I am happy we have senior players like Eric Mudzingwa and Felix Chindungwe, they also need to be responsible enough.
"Sometimes you don't need a coach or anyone to motivate you. These guys know the rivalry between the teams. So they know what needs to be done.
"We have had a good preparation except for a few injuries. So we should have our strongest team for this match."
Although Highlanders have largely played in the shadows of Dembare in the last decade, this year they scored an important victory in the ZNA Charities Cup final where they won 1-0 courtesy of a solitary strike by veteran Obadiah Tarumbwa at Rufaro.
Highlanders are expecting their influential forward Knox Mutizwa to return from South Africa this afternoon.
The youthful forward, who won this year's Golden Boot with 14 goals, was on trials at Bidvest Wits.
"I am sure they are arranging something down there in South Africa so that he should be here on time. I hope he will be in a good frame of mind.
"Hopefully, he will not be carried away with the prospects of getting a deal in South Africa and you know he is also excited being the Golden Boot winner and being among the Soccer Stars.
"Some of these things get into their heads and in the end you may lose focus. You always need to be careful with these youngsters. So we will monitor him," said Soma-Phiri.
Dynamos coach Tonderai Ndiraya said the Glamour Boys, who lost the league title to Chicken Inn, were looking to end the season on a positive note.
He said DeMbare were focused on winning their only silverware of the season but they will need to overcome the big obstacle
The Glamour Boys may be forced to play without their midfield hardman Stephen Alimenda, striker Kelvin Bulaji and defensive pillar Sydney Linyama.
"We want to win this Cup, as much as Highlanders, CAPS United or Chicken Inn. We remain positive we want to win silverware this season and I hope we will go there with a positive mind and try as much as possible to work hard so that we get into the final," said coach Tonderai Ndiraya.
"But we are expecting a very tight contest, a very tough match. We have been having a good run in the league and the Cups as well but such things do not count when you play Highlanders.
"Remember we lost to the same side in the ZNA Commander Shield final but we are going to take confidence from the fact that we have played them several times and won, especially at Barbourfields.
"Some people call it our home ground and we just hope it gives us an advantage and help us progress to the next round the tournament. We want to fight so that we get into the final of this tournament."
Dembare are also hoping to field their two forwards Chinyama and Mutuma who were last week banned four games each after being found guilty by the PSL Disciplinary Committee.
The club appealed against the decision.
Midfielder Masimba Mambare is also available after recovering from injury.
Source - the herald
