HIGHLANDERS face their second toughest opponents when they play How Mine at Barbourfields Stadium on Sunday with the latter hoping to continue where they left off in the Castle Lager Premier Soccer League (PSL).
BY THANDIWE MOYO
How Mine had never won consecutively this season, but finally achieved that when they beat Triangle 2-1 before dismissing ZPC Kariba with a similar score line.
Since 2013 in the PSL How Mine have won two of their encounters, Highlanders winning once and drawing the other.
However, in all the matches both teams had different coaches with How Mine being led last season by Philani “Beefy” Ncube while Highlanders were under Kelvin Kaindu.
This will be the first time the two coaches meet in the league.
Highlanders are coming from a 2-2 draw against FC Platinum and a win against Whawha the previous week and coach Bongani Mafu is still to win over the Highlanders faithful’s hearts.
Masomere said that the win against ZPC Kariba was a morale booster and that it would go a long way in giving them the confidence they need against Highlanders.
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“It’s the first time this season that we have won two matches consecutively. It’s a morale booster. We are picking up our form at the right time. We are meeting Highlanders with tails high after that win against ZPC Kariba,” he said.
Masomere added: “It’s going to be a very big match. Highlanders are starting to play some good football it’s going to be a thriller.”
Former Highlanders frontrunner Charles Sibanda will not face his former paymasters after accumulating three yellow cards.
Chikurupati will also miss the services of Gilbert Banda, who injured his calf against Triangle in a match Masomere said the defender played the game of his life.
Nelson Tachi was also injured against ZPC Kariba and had to be stretchered off the field, but Masomere said he would need some time to recover while Limited Chikafa played a few minutes in their match against ZPC Kariba when he came in for Wonder Sithole in the 87th minute.
Highlanders coach Mafu has been under fire from Bosso supporters to get the wins and his next couple of matches will test him and his charges.
He faces How Mine this weekend before taking on Dynamos in Harare and his last match of the first half would be against Kelvin Kaindu’s high-riding Triangle.
How Mine will face Hwange and Buffaloes in their last two encounters before the halfway mark.
Meanwhile, the PSL has said they have not received Highlanders’ complaint about alleged poor officiating by Rusape-based Brighton Chimene.
Highlanders recently filed a complaint which they sent to the PSL and copied to the Zimbabwe Soccer Referees’ Association.
“I have not received a complaint from Highlanders,” said PSL chief executive officer Kennedy Ndebele when contacted for comment yesterday.
