HWANGE Football Club, seemingly the team to beat going into round four of the 2014 Premier Soccer League season, will not be reading much into history as they aim to pick up maximum points against log leaders Highlanders at Barbourfields Stadium (BF) on Sunday.
Fortune Mbele Sports Reporter
The coal miners are on second spot with both teams having amassed seven points each. The winner on Sunday could claim the top spot with new boys ZPC Kariba stalking with the same number of points. They head to Mutare for yet another potentially explosive clash against Buffaloes on the same day.
Chipangano head coach Nation Dube, who handed Buffaloes a 5-1 thorough beating season opener at home before staging a dramatic comeback from 0-2 to beat FC Platinum 3-2 at Mandava Stadium, yesterday said all the clubs in the league are equal.
Hwange, who have not beaten Bosso in the league since Kelvin Kaindu came on board at the Bulawayo giants in 2012, lost their home and away encounters 0-1 and drew 1-1 with Triangle last Sunday.
“Last year was last year and we take each game as it comes. We are taking a different approach. Highlanders can be one of the biggest clubs, but we are in the same league and there are no small or big teams,” Dube said.
The man to watch, who could tear Highlanders apart on Sunday, is Rodwell Chinyengetere, who returned from an 18-month absence due to injury and has scored three goals so far in the league.
He grabbed a brace in the 5-1 demolition of Buffaloes and got the equaliser in the 1-1 draw against Triangle.
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The former Warriors midfielder, who was captain at Hwange when goalkeeper Artwell Mukandi — at Monomotapa in 2012 — lunged at him and he suffered a career-threatening double fracture on his right leg, is still undergoing physiotherapy although he has started playing.
Hwange have striker Aleck Marime, who joined the coal miners from relegated Tripple B where he scored 11 goals last year.
Also at Hwange is Warriors right-back Erick Chipeta, the young Tafara Chese, Isaac Masame, Farai Vimisayi, veterans Gilbert Zulu and David Boriwondo.
“We have slight knocks here and there, but everybody is training,” Dube said.
Highlanders assistant coach Mark Mathe believes Bosso have started the season well and all they have to do is to maintain the form.
“So far we have played well and we want to maintain the consistency. Everyone is fit except for Gabriel (Nyoni),” Mathe said.
Bosso played a goalless draw against Chapungu in their first game at Ascot Stadium before pummelling Shabanie Mine 4-1 at BF and crashing Chiredzi FC 3-0 at Chishamiso Stadium on Monday.
Bosso have strikers Knox Mutizwa and Ozias Zibande and attacking midfielders Milton Ncube, Charles Sibanda, Kudakwashe Mahachi, Peter “Rio” Moyo, Mthulisi Maphosa and Erick Mudzingwa.
Zibande, Mahachi and Sibanda scored against Chiredzi FC on Monday.
Mathe yesterday said Kaindu, who left the country on Tuesday for Zambia, will be back in time and will be in charge on Sunday.
