AFTER winning the country’s major cup tournament, the Mbada Diamonds Cup last year, Highlanders are looking forward to add the 2014 Independence Trophy to their cabinet after a cup drought that dates back to 2011.
Fortune Mbele Sports Reporter The Bulawayo giants beat How Mine 3-0 to win the Mbada Diamonds Cup at Babourfields (BF) last year after they had last won a piece of silverware when they beat Dynamos 4-3 in a penalty shoot-out to lift the Uhuru Cup in 2011.
The last piece of silverware before that had been winning the Premier Soccer League championship in 2006. That has eluded them for six years, playing second fiddle to perennial rivals Dynamos in the last two seasons.
But the hurdle to this year’s Uhuru Cup final might be in-form FC Platinum, who they meet this afternoon in the semi-final at Barbourfields Stadium.
Caretaker coach Mark Mathe is confident Bosso would cruise past FC Platinum albeit admitting it will not be easy as the platinum miners have been in top form in pre-season.
“It is an honour playing in the Independence Cup and the boys know what is at stake. But tomorrow’s (today’s) match is going to be a difficult game against FC Platinum. FC Platinum are on top of their game, but we are happy with our preparations although our main worry is injuries in camp,” Mathe said.
Highlanders lost 0-2 to Platinum in a friendly match last week at Mandava Stadium, a defeat followed by another 0-2 loss to Dynamos in the final of the Bob 90 Super Cup.
Bosso were beaten 2-1 in a penalty shoot-out in the semi-final of the CG Msipa Charity Shield.
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Mathe is taking charge of Bosso in the absence of head coach Kelvin Kaindu, away in the United Kingdom attending an ongoing Uefa B Licence coaching course.
In another friendly match at BF, Highlanders beat FC Platinun 1-0 last month when Mathe was in charge.
He said they would be having the final assessment on injured Peter “Rio” Moyo, Milton Ncube, Erick Mudzingwa and Rahman Kutsanzira in the last training session yesterday afternoon.
“It is injuries that need late fitness tests and I cannot say if they would play or not. But should they not make it, we would give others a chance to cement their competition for jerseys before the season starts,” Mathe said.
A likely replacement for Rio, if he is not going to be fit, is Joel Ngodzo while Ncube’s place could be taken by Valentine Ndaba, with Kudakwashe Mahachi and Charles Sibanda more on the attack.
Simon Munawa or Mthulisi Maphosa could play in front of central defenders — skipper Innocent Mapuranga and Felix Chindungwe — while Dumisani “Fazo” Ndlovu could be thrown to the right-back to replace Mudzingwa.
FC Platinum head coach Lloyd Mutasa, also worried about injuries, said he was looking forward to his side beating Highlanders for the first time at BF.
“We are through with our preparations and ready for the game. When you play a team like Highlanders it’s always a close contest.
“We have never beaten Highlanders at BF, but history is meant to be broken. We had never beaten Dynamos and we beat them last year. We hope that history repeats itself tomorrow (today),” Mutasa said.
