Sports / Soccer
Bulawayo comes to standstill
12 May 2017 at 16:10hrs | Views
ARE you ready?
IT'S moments away from the biggest match in the Castle Lager Premier Soccer League: "The Battle of Zimbabwe Part One" as seemingly resurgent Highlanders entertain eternal rivals Dynamos who have been erratic since the start of the 2017 season.
The everlasting rivals meet for the second time this season when the curtain rises deep in the bowels of Barbourfields Stadium on Sunday at 3pm.
The match will be beamed live on Supersport.
The crucial battle pits two sides seemingly going in opposite directions and could be pivotal in what is currently an unclear race for the league crown.
Having dominated DeMbare in last year's PSL matches, Bosso will be keen to stand their ground and even extend their cushion over the Harare giants with a victory, a crucial win that may be worth even more than just three points in terms of the head-to-head record between the two sides, depending on the final result of course.
The form guide suggests that Erol Akbay's mentored Bosso charges should be considered slight favourites after they convincingly beat stubborn ZPC Kariba and star studded Ngezi Platinum Stars in their most recent matches played at Barbourfields Stadium.
In these kind of games, confidence is a good thing; over-confidence could however, prove to be one of the clubs' downfall. And it is in treading that thin unknown line that champions are born; how often have we seen premature declarations of greatness foiled — certainly more often than not with this fixture.
Team News
Bosso
Nothing but good news this week from the black and white camp is that injury prone duo of Gabriel Nyoni and vice captain Rahman Kutsanzira are not in the treatment room. Club Captain Eric Mudzingwa, Honest Moyo and ex-Dynamos player Mutuma are available for selection. While Mutuma will naturally seek to destroy his former paymasters, the majority of Akbay's team for Sunday will pick itself — and that is good news, as it allows the coach and his assistants to spend more time focusing on their game plan than on such trivial matters as his selection.
"We have been playing well and we need to maintain that. It's a big game and we are confident that we are going to get the better of Dynamos. Let the Highlanders fans come in their numbers and confuse our opponents," said the inform Bosso midfielder Kutsanzira.
DeMbare
Ex-Highlanders midfielder Masimba Mambare is available for selection. So is their skipper Ocean Mushure who, like Mutuma during his days in the blue and white camp, just loves to punish Highlanders despite the magnitude of the game.
Gifted former Warriors midfielder Denver Mukamba will also certainly make the trip to Bulawayo.
So the story should read: Mambare, Mushure, Mukamba seek death blow versus Bosso
Form Guide (Last Three Games)
Bosso: W W D
DeMbare: W L W
Match Prediction
Goals, Drama, Excitement, Tension, Relief, in that order in a blockbuster tie that can go either way.
Meanwhile, in other PSL fixtures, Barbourfields Stadium will be the venue for a double header that will see How Mine lock horns with fellow miners FC Platinum in a match that will kick off at 1pm before the game between Bulawayo City and in-form Black Rhinos set for 3pm. Both matches will also be shown live on Supersport.
ZPC Kariba entertain Tsholotsho FC at Nyamhunga Stadium. Prophet Walter Magaya's Yadah FC, who are smarting from a 7-2 loss, welcome equally bruised Chicken Inn at National Sports Stadium.
In other matches set for Sunday, Hwange will meet Triangle at Colliery Stadium while Shabanie Mine do battle against Chapungu at Maglas Stadium.
Harare City and Ngezi Platinum Stars will fight it out at Morris Depot. The game between CAPS United and Bantu Rovers has been postponed as former are set to play their Caf Champions League group match encounter against Zamalek in Alexandra , Egypt on Friday.
Match Day Eight fixtures
Saturday: How Mine v FC Platinum (Barbourfields, SuperSport, 1PM), Bulawayo City v Black Rhinos (Barbourfields, SuperSport), ZPC Kariba v Tsholotsho FC (Nyamhunga), Yadah FC v Chicken Inn (National Sports Stadium)
Sunday: Hwange v Triangle United (Colliery), Shabanie Mine v Chapungu (Maglas), Harare City v Ngezi Platinum (Morris Depot), Highlanders v Dynamos (Barbourfields, SuperSport), Caps United v Bantu Rovers (Postponed)
Rescheduled Match Day Three Fixtures
Wednesday, 17 May: Harare City v Highlanders (National Sports Stadium), Chicken Inn v FC Platinum (Luveve).
Thursday, 18 May Dynamos v Black Rhinos (National Sports Stadium), ZPC Kariba v Caps United (Nyamhunga).
IT'S moments away from the biggest match in the Castle Lager Premier Soccer League: "The Battle of Zimbabwe Part One" as seemingly resurgent Highlanders entertain eternal rivals Dynamos who have been erratic since the start of the 2017 season.
The everlasting rivals meet for the second time this season when the curtain rises deep in the bowels of Barbourfields Stadium on Sunday at 3pm.
The match will be beamed live on Supersport.
The crucial battle pits two sides seemingly going in opposite directions and could be pivotal in what is currently an unclear race for the league crown.
Having dominated DeMbare in last year's PSL matches, Bosso will be keen to stand their ground and even extend their cushion over the Harare giants with a victory, a crucial win that may be worth even more than just three points in terms of the head-to-head record between the two sides, depending on the final result of course.
The form guide suggests that Erol Akbay's mentored Bosso charges should be considered slight favourites after they convincingly beat stubborn ZPC Kariba and star studded Ngezi Platinum Stars in their most recent matches played at Barbourfields Stadium.
In these kind of games, confidence is a good thing; over-confidence could however, prove to be one of the clubs' downfall. And it is in treading that thin unknown line that champions are born; how often have we seen premature declarations of greatness foiled — certainly more often than not with this fixture.
Team News
Bosso
Nothing but good news this week from the black and white camp is that injury prone duo of Gabriel Nyoni and vice captain Rahman Kutsanzira are not in the treatment room. Club Captain Eric Mudzingwa, Honest Moyo and ex-Dynamos player Mutuma are available for selection. While Mutuma will naturally seek to destroy his former paymasters, the majority of Akbay's team for Sunday will pick itself — and that is good news, as it allows the coach and his assistants to spend more time focusing on their game plan than on such trivial matters as his selection.
"We have been playing well and we need to maintain that. It's a big game and we are confident that we are going to get the better of Dynamos. Let the Highlanders fans come in their numbers and confuse our opponents," said the inform Bosso midfielder Kutsanzira.
DeMbare
Ex-Highlanders midfielder Masimba Mambare is available for selection. So is their skipper Ocean Mushure who, like Mutuma during his days in the blue and white camp, just loves to punish Highlanders despite the magnitude of the game.
Gifted former Warriors midfielder Denver Mukamba will also certainly make the trip to Bulawayo.
Form Guide (Last Three Games)
Bosso: W W D
DeMbare: W L W
Match Prediction
Goals, Drama, Excitement, Tension, Relief, in that order in a blockbuster tie that can go either way.
Meanwhile, in other PSL fixtures, Barbourfields Stadium will be the venue for a double header that will see How Mine lock horns with fellow miners FC Platinum in a match that will kick off at 1pm before the game between Bulawayo City and in-form Black Rhinos set for 3pm. Both matches will also be shown live on Supersport.
ZPC Kariba entertain Tsholotsho FC at Nyamhunga Stadium. Prophet Walter Magaya's Yadah FC, who are smarting from a 7-2 loss, welcome equally bruised Chicken Inn at National Sports Stadium.
In other matches set for Sunday, Hwange will meet Triangle at Colliery Stadium while Shabanie Mine do battle against Chapungu at Maglas Stadium.
Harare City and Ngezi Platinum Stars will fight it out at Morris Depot. The game between CAPS United and Bantu Rovers has been postponed as former are set to play their Caf Champions League group match encounter against Zamalek in Alexandra , Egypt on Friday.
Match Day Eight fixtures
Saturday: How Mine v FC Platinum (Barbourfields, SuperSport, 1PM), Bulawayo City v Black Rhinos (Barbourfields, SuperSport), ZPC Kariba v Tsholotsho FC (Nyamhunga), Yadah FC v Chicken Inn (National Sports Stadium)
Sunday: Hwange v Triangle United (Colliery), Shabanie Mine v Chapungu (Maglas), Harare City v Ngezi Platinum (Morris Depot), Highlanders v Dynamos (Barbourfields, SuperSport), Caps United v Bantu Rovers (Postponed)
Rescheduled Match Day Three Fixtures
Wednesday, 17 May: Harare City v Highlanders (National Sports Stadium), Chicken Inn v FC Platinum (Luveve).
Thursday, 18 May Dynamos v Black Rhinos (National Sports Stadium), ZPC Kariba v Caps United (Nyamhunga).
Source - bmetro
