HIGHLANDERS will bank on home advantage as they seek their first win and maintain consistency as they clash with Shabanie Mine in their second Castle Lager Premier Soccer League (PSL) match at Barbourfields Stadium (BF) this afternoon.
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The Bulawayo giants were held to a goalless draw by PSL returnees Chapungu United at Ascot Stadium last weekend and assistant coach Mark Mathe said the time has come to start collecting maximum points.
Mathe stands in for head coach Kelvin Kaindu who left for the UK on Friday for the ongoing Uefa B Licence course.
“So far everything has been good. It is our first home game after the draw against Chapungu last week and our fans deserve victory. It is very important that we open our home account with a win. The team has now gelled. We created so many chances in Gweru and that is positive. It is important that we win and lay a good foundation for consistency,” Mathe said.
Striker Cleopas “Balotelli” Dube is out of today’s tie with a right ankle injury sustained in the Chapungu match and Mathe said depending on the game plan for this afternoon’s match, Rahman Kutsanzira might be drafted into the team.
“Cleopas had light training after sustaining an ankle injury against Chapungu. As for Rahman, he might play, he might not, but that will depend on our game plan. He started full training and had a good week,” Nyathi said.
Milton Ncube (pictured) had several of his attempts saved by Chapungu goalkeeper Roy Mazingi last week and is the man that the Shabanie Mine defence will have to watch. Bosso have Kuda Mahachi, Charles Sibanda, Peter “Rio” Moyo, striker Knox Mutizwa and Gabriel Nyoni.
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Simon Munawa has been pushed to the right back with Erick Mudzingwa reverting to the centre where he double-anchored with Mthulisi Maphosa last week.
On the left back is the overlapping Bruce Kangwa while the vastly improved Dumisani “Fazo” Ndlovu has settled in well in central defence with skipper Innocent Mapuranga.
Shabanie Mine, yet to beat Highlanders at BF since 2010, have warned Highlanders not to underrate them and will be seeking their first win at Emagumeni.
Under new coach John Phiri, Shabanie Mine have former Bosso players Douglas Sibanda, who is on loan from the Bulawayo giants and Louis Matawu who left Highlanders to join Motor Action before packing his bags for Zvishavane this year.
“We are going there with a spirit of winning, but if we can settle for a draw that will be good for us. To beat a big team in their backyard will be a step forward for the club, the players and I, but it is going to be a tough task. We will try our best. We respect Highlanders as a big team, but they must not underrate us,” Phiri said.
Shabanie Mine have Nelson Meson, Carlos Mesi, Godknows Murirwa and Hamilton Masumbuko who joined them from relegated Monomotapa. They also have goalkeeper Victor Twaliki, Allan Tavariswa and Hardlife Mavundi.
Chicken Inn are away to Buffaloes at Sakubva Stadium this afternoon after they had a bright start to the league dispatching Harare City 3-0 in the first match with goals from Canaan Nkomo, Mkhokheli Dube and substitute Ishmael Lawe.
