Bosso, Bulawayo City battle for bragging rights

BRAGGING rights will take centre stage compared to technical prowess when Highlanders take on new boys Bulawayo City in Sunday's derby at Barbourfields Stadium.

Speaking at the club's weekly press conference yesterday, Highlanders' technical director and goalkeepers' coach Cosmas Zulu said the technical department was not worried that Bulawayo City's coaches watched Bosso's game against Tsholotsho FC last Sunday on a spying mission. Bosso won that game 2-1.

"We train side-by-side with Bulawayo City at Barbourfields and we're not concerned that their coaches have been spying on us. What's important on the day of the derby is the mentality of the players, so this business of tactics and spying doesn't count. Whether Mujokoro (Farai) or Beefy (Philani Ncube) know about us or they've been spying on us will not count on Sunday," said Zulu.

He believes bragging rights will be the motivating factor to win compared to the technical acumen of the coaches.

"What works is which coach has got players in his squad who want it (to win) more than the other team. It's about what the players want on that particular day because in a derby it's all about pride; it's about who will walk on the streets of Bulawayo and brag that we won the derby," he said.

Veteran striker Ralph Matema is still out nursing an injury although he has been doing some light training.

Highlanders head coach Erol Akbay said the team would be gunning for all three points to keep up with the leading pack in the Castle Lager Premier Soccer League.

FC Platinum lead the league table with a 100 percent record from their three games, while Bosso have won two and lost one.

"When our strikers get 10 chances and score only two, then as a coach I'm not happy about that, but last Sunday we had four chances and we scored two goals. It's important that we collect three points against Bulawayo City on Sunday," said Akbay.