Kaindu focused

Sport
HIGHLANDERS head coach Kelvin Kaindu says reading too much into history will make his charges lose focus and put them under unnecessary pressure

HIGHLANDERS head coach Kelvin Kaindu says reading too much into history will make his charges lose focus and put them under unnecessary pressure as the Bulawayo giants seek to break the seven-year-old league jinx against perennial nemesis Dynamos in a

BOSSO-KAINDU-PRAYS1

FORTUNE MBELE SPORTS REPORTER

Castle Lager Premier Soccer League match at the National Sports Stadium this afternoon.

Bosso with 21 points, hit the road once again after the 1-1 draw against Triangle at Gibbo Stadium in Chiredzi last Sunday hoping to beat the champions after a seven-year spell in the league. They played two draws in their recent league matches relinquishing the top spot to Hwange.

Hwange with 22 points, will host Chicken Inn at the Colliery as they seek to maintain their stranglehold at the apex while How Mine at par with Bosso, will entertain FC Platinum at Luveve. ZPC Kariba and Dynamos are breathing closely with 19 points each.

ZPC Kariba will be away to Shabanie at Maglas Stadium. Kaindu said the most important thing was to focus on today’s match as he banks on the timely recovery of midfielders Kudakwashe Mahachi and Peter “Rio” Moyo, who will be available for today’s match.

Also available is Milton Ncube, who had been feared to be leaving for South Africa to join new club Ajax Cape Town on Thursday.

Bosso have Charles Sibanda, Welcome Ndiweni, Knox Mutizwa, Cleopas Dube, Ozias Zibande and Erick Mudzingwa ready for today’s clash.

“We know expectations are high, but we don’t want to dwell too much on history because that makes us lose concentration and focus. As much as we know the rivalry between us (Highlanders and Dynamos), we just need to focus on this match,” Kaindu said.

Rahman Kutsanzira has been ruled out due to an injury.

All has not been rosy at the league champions, who lost their last match to Hwange 0-1 at the Colliery last week. Dynamos have so far lost four matches in the season with their counterparts yet to lose a match, but hard done by six draws.

Former Highlanders midfielder Stephen Alimenda said any team could win today’s clash adding that the tie was a different game altogether.

“I know I was at my career best while at Highlanders, but it has been long since I left them. I will just play my normal game like I am facing any other team,” he said.

“The game itself is self-motivating. Both teams have good chances of winning though. It is not going to be an easy match for us, so hard work is required. We have an extra home advantage although there is a little bit of pressure from our expectant fans. We just have to be on top of the situation from the first whistle and not allow them to come at us.

“This is a new game and we want to win again. But history will not help us. Look at Spain at the World Cup.

“Who expected that they would go home early? Being defending champions comes with pressure. Every game is tough for us because everyone wants to beat us.”

Ronald Chitiyo, Tichaona Mabvura, Simba Sithole, Washington Pakamisa, Patrick Khumbula, Anesu Gondo, Tafadzwa Rusike and left-back Ocean Mushure await Highlanders, who are banking on a good away record while coach Kalisto Pasuwa’s DeMbare have fared badly at home.

Today: Dynamos v Highlanders (National Sports Stadium, SS9), Hwange v Chicken Inn (Colliery), How Mine v FC Platinum (Luveve), Shabanie Mine v ZPC Kariba (Maglas), Chiredzi v Caps United (Chishamiso).