Highlanders, Dynamos to meet again in league encounter

BULAWAYO giants Highlanders will meet their old nemesis Dynamos in a potentially explosive Castle Lager Premier Soccer League (PSL) encounter at Rufaro Stadium on Sunday exactly 72 hours after their Independence Cup battle yesterday.

DeMbare beat the Bulawayo giants by a solitary Murape Murape goal to clinch the Uhuru honours.

Head coach Kelvin Kaindu is likely to make several changes to his side after rotating the team in last Saturday's 0-1 loss to Motor Action at Barbourfields Stadium. Heritani Masuku, fit again pair of Eric Mudzingwa and Beavan Chikaka, look set to be in the starting eleven to partner Mthulisi Maphosa, Innocent Mapuranga and Njabulo "Tshiki" Ncube.

Injury-prone Bruce Tshuma could return to the side at rightback though Simon Munawa gave a good account of himself in the past two matches. Tshuma is a natural defender, a workaholic who also has pace and the ability to venture upfront to provide forwards with inviting crosses in the 18-yard box.

An ankle injury about three weeks ago forced Tshuma to have a lay off. Speedy and skillful Bruce Kangwa, Bhekimpilo Ncube and another swift player Masimba Mambare are some of the Bosso players who will be expected to ask more questions from the DeMbare defence.

In attack, either Graham Ncube, Milton Ncube or Chikaka will hope for a starting berth alongside Njabulo.

Their opponents, DeMbare, will have in their line-up skillful defender Partson Jaure who reminds the black and white family of their former captain Dazzy Kapenya, Tawanda Muparati, Francisco Zvikumbawire, Murape Murape, goalkeeper Artwell Mukandi and Gift Bello should all return to Callisto Pasuwa's starting line-up after their series of draws that have been cause for concern for the entire Zora Butter family.

For DeMbare boss Pasuwa, who was summoned for an urgent meeting by the club's executive after their fourth consecutive draw last Sunday, it is an open secret that red lights are flashing and anything short of a victory against Amahlolanyama could see him out of employment soon.

His boys have notoriously been renamed as DeMbare the DeDraw Boys, a thing which an ordinary man in the streets of Mbare or a die-hard DeMbare fan who usually sits at the Veitnam stand at Rufaro Stadium, will not take kindly.

In other PSL fixtures, Chicken Inn will play host to Monomotapa at Luveve Stadium. Both teams lost their last league matches and are obviously gunning for maximum points. Coach Mandla Mpofu, who made some rather strange substitutions in the 1-2 loss to log leaders FC Platinum, will be expected to get his technical brains right this time around. He is better advised not to be carried away by the two wins.

In a battle of Zvishavane, Shabanie Mine will entertain the in form FC Platinum at Maglas Stadium while Black Mambas face struggling Hwange at Morris Depot. Outspoken coach Luke Masomere recently acquitted of any wrong-doing in the Asiagate scandal, will be on the Shabanie bench and his presence is expected to be a morale booster for the asbestos miners. They could bag their first set of three points although the match is evenly poised.

High riding newboys How Mine, yet to lose at Luveve Stadium, entertain Caps United while Buffaloes will lock horns with Harare City at Sakubva Stadium.

Beitbridge-based Tripple B will invade the Gibbo Stadium cauldron for a date against Triangle.

It will be a case of who will be dehorned at Rufaro Stadium tomorrow when Black Rhinos square off against Motor Action. The Mighty Bulls became the first club to defeat Highlanders at Emagumeni since 28 May 2011 and will want to prove that their win on Saturday was not a fluke.

Fixtures

Tomorrow: Black Mambas v Hwange (Morris Depot), Chicken Inn v Monomotapa (Luveve), Black Rhinos v Motor Action (Rufaro), Triangle v Tripple B(Gibbo),

Sunday: Shabanie Mine v FC Platinum (Maglas), How Mine v Caps United(Luveve), Buffaloes v Harare City (Rufaro), Dynamos v Highlanders(Rufaro)