Bosso, Dembare square off

THE BIG match hype culminates in reality when bitter rivals Highlanders and Dynamos cross daggers in what is expected to be a tightly contested Castle Lager Premier Soccer League reverse fixture at Barbourfields Stadium this afternoon.

Highlanders can only recall beating Dynamos in 2006, but came close on 21 April, when their man-of-the moment Njabulo Ncube gave them the lead only to see Partson Jaure scoring deep in added time at Rufaro Stadium.

Bosso followers had no kind words for the match day referee Norman Matemera whom they accused of adding more than the stipulated optional time.

Matches involving the two sides in recent years have been well attended and closely contested although draws have been the most common result. And once again Bosso supporters are expected to turn BF into their citadel as their team seeks to turn their recent fantastic form into a serious fight for honours in both the league and the Mbada Diamonds Cup in which they are still in contention.

This time around Bosso fans have every reason to believe they have a realistic outlook to upset the applecart while their DeMbare counterparts will testify that their beloved team has overcome a partial eclipse and will definitely maintain the hegemony over Highlanders.

Where there was a pall of gloom in recent weeks, there are now loads of hope following Dynamos' convincing 4-0 win over relegation-bound Tripple B.

That win saw the defending champions end an uncharacteristic poor run that saw them lose to Hwange, FC Platinum, and draw with Monomotapa, while they were dumped out of the Mbada Diamonds Cup by How Mine.

However, an emphatic win over Tripple B, coupled with their huge following in the city points to a resurgent side that is out to maintain a "traditional" stranglehold over the host side.

On the other hand, while DeMbare were on a downward spiral, Bosso maintained fine form in both the league and the Mbada Diamonds Cup that culminated in a record-breaking 3-0 annihilation of Black Rhinos, a feat that ended the army side's unbeaten run at their adopted home ground, Rimuka Stadium in Kadoma.

Ironically, it is that victory over Rhinos that has really set pulses racing at Highlanders with more converts to Bosso's belief that they can bag the league this time around. After all their team has just found their form, and lead the race with a two-point advantage over DeMbare.

Today's match might not only prove to be a test on how much Highlanders have transformed, but a win might also see them open a five-point gap on their biggest rivals with four games to play.

However, with both sets of fans predicting victory for their teams, the biggest question remains: will the burden of expectation from their followers not weigh down on them this afternoon?

The manner of the Highlanders victory over Rhinos might have made chilling viewing for their rivals, as for once Bosso were imperious from back to front against a team that had not lost at home nor conceded a goal.

However, pundits will tell you that Dynamos' victory over Tripple B and Highlanders' record-breaking triumph over Black Rhinos have seen the pendulum swing onto a more even keel and the game could go either way.

Ahead of this encounter both coaches might have surprises in store for their fans by resorting to their winning starting line-ups. After all, you never change a winning side, do you?

Both teams' last line-ups
Highlanders: M Diya, E Mudzingwa, B Kangwa, I Mapuranga, H Madzivanyika (B Chikaka), S Munawa, D Sibanda (M Maphosa), M Mambare, D Ndlovu, M Ncube, N Ncube (B Chuma).
Dynamos: G Chigova, O Machapa (T Magorimbo), O Mushure, G Bello), P Jaure, S Alimenda, B Ziruntusa, M Murape, T Muparati, P Khumbula (S Sithole), C Kawinga (W Pakamisa)

Other Fixtures
Hwange v Black Mambas (Colliery), Highlanders v Dynamos (BF), Monomotapa v Chicken Inn (Gwanzura).