Tsano confident of victory

Sport
HIGHLANDERS technical advisor Cosmas “Tsano” Zulu has expressed confidence that the struggling Bulawayo football giants will register a win over hosts Chapungu at Ascot Stadium this afternoon.

HIGHLANDERS technical advisor Cosmas “Tsano” Zulu has expressed confidence that the struggling Bulawayo football giants will register a win over hosts Chapungu at Ascot Stadium this afternoon.

BY SAKHELENI NXUMALO/Mukudzei Chingwere

Bosso go into today’s encounter sitting on position 11 and will be in search of maximum points as they seek a more respectable position on the table.

bosso

The Bulawayo giants missed three key players during preparations for this match, but Zulu remains confident that his side will pick up a win.

“We had a bit of a disadvantage in our preparations, considering that three of our players were away with the national team. That has been our only concern in terms of our preparations for the Chapungu match, but it is not going to take away our positive mindset of winning the game,” he said.

Highlanders players that were part of the Warriors travelling party to Lesotho include Bruce Kangwa, Teenage Hadebe and Knox Mutizwa.

The trio arrived back in Bulawayo yesterday morning.

Bosso initially had four players in the Warriors camp, but midfielder Nqobizitha Masuku was dropped due to injury.

Chapungu won the reverse fixture 1-0 at Barbourfields Stadium in April, but their head coach, John Nyikadzino said a lot has changed since that game and they will be expecting a different proposition.

“That was the fifth game of the season and a lot has changed at Highlanders. It is a totally different game altogether and it’s like we are facing a new team because coaches have different philosophies,” he said.

Then, Highlanders were coached by Bongani Mafu, who has since been replaced by former Bosso linkman, Amin Soma Phiri. Nyikadzino said, except for the suspended Tineyi Chitora, all players were available for selection. Chitora will miss today’s encounter after accumulating three consecutive yellow cards.

Like Zulu, Nyikadzino is confident of a positive result for his team.

“We are confident of a good game, we have prepared adequately for the match. Our problem in previous matches is that we were not scoring goals and we have been working on that. Despite the change I am confident we will do well on home ground.”

Bustling former Hwange, Dynamos and Shabanie Mine forward Allan Tavarwisa scored Chapungu’s solitary strike in the reverse fixture and is expected to lead the airmen’s attack this afternoon.

Highlanders will be without anchorman, Douglas Sibanda, who was shown a red card in Bosso’s 2-0 victory over Dongo Sawmill a fortnight ago.

Obadiah Tarumbwa and Ralph Matema and Mutizwa are likely to form a three-pronged attack, as Highlanders seek maximum points and stay clear of the relegation zone.

In their last match Mutizwa and Matema partnered upfront with Tarumbwa playing behind.

Chapungu are in eighth position with 35 points, while Highlanders has 31 points.