IF there is one match that is fast becoming a bore in the Castle Lager Premier Soccer League, then it’s the Highlanders-Dynamos clashes.
WELLINGTON TONI SPORTS EDITOR
Since that stunning 2-0 victory at Barbourfields Stadium in 2006 – the last time Bosso won the league title – the Bulawayo giants have become a pale shadow of themselves when playing against Dynamos, in league and cup competitions.
They retreat into a shell, in their minds, perhaps, they lose even before playing, they don’t fight and believe the result is a foregone conclusion. Had they watched Dynamos’ 2-1 win over Caps United at the National Sports Stadium two weeks ago, then would understand what it takes to be champions.
Highlanders and Dynamos meet again – this time tomorrow at Barbourfields Stadium. And, perhaps, the only reward for the winner, probably Dynamos, is top spot in the event ZPC Kariba and Caps United do not win their respective matches.
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Coach Kelvin Kaindu is yet to find the formula to psyche his players and after his strikers fired blanks against Black Rhinos, the Zambian believes they were unlucky.
“The game was ours to win, but we failed to convert our chances especially those two opportunities at the end of the game. I cannot complain much about the way we played, but we need to improve a lot. Yes, we failed to win for the third successive game and that is how football can be sometimes. But hopefully we will recover next time,” he told NewsDay Sport on Wednesday.
This next time arrive in 24 hours and how he hopes to improve is anybody’s guess. Perhaps, the players have a problem too.
They have failed to justify their wearing the black and white that has been worn in the past by the great Ndlovu brothers, Madinda, the late Adam and Peter, Willard Khumalo, Alexander “Cool Ruler” Maseko, the late Mercedes “Rambo” Sibanda and Benjamin Nkonjera, Titus Majola, Douglas “British” Mloyi, Thulani “Biya” Ncube, Zenzo “Zemura” Moyo and Honour Gombami.
Can Charles Sibanda, Valentine Ndaba, Arial Sibanda, Njabulo Ncube, Joel Ngodzo, Welcome Ndiweni, Mthulisi Maphosa, Erick Mudzingwa, Simon Munawa, Knox Mutizwa, Gabriel Nyoni and Ozias Zibande reach the same levels?
In fact, Dynamos are looking forward to assuming the top spot come 1700hrs tomorrow, in the event results from other centres go their way.
Despite drawing against Black Rhinos and Chicken Inn in their last two matches, Dynamos always have their confidence at the highest levels when they play Highlanders.
Speaking after the last draw against Chicken Inn at Gwanzura on Wednesday, Dynamos coach Kalisto Pasuwa said they have to regroup for tomorrow’s match. “We were second to the ball (against Chicken Inn) and missed a number of chances especially in the first half. We didn’t play well possibly because of the changes we made due to injuries to some of our players. Now we have to rectify the mistakes and go to face Highlanders in our next match with a compact team,” said Pasuwa.
Ask Caps, they will tell you what Dynamos does when they want to win a match. They fight; they battle until the last drop to preserve the blue.
FIXTURES
Tomorrow: Highlanders vs Dynamos (Barbourfields, live on SuperSport9), Buffaloes vs Bantu Rovers (Sakubva), Harare City vs Chapungu (Rufaro), Triangle vs Black Rhinos (Gibbo), ZPC Kariba vs Shabanie Mine (Gwanzura), FC Platinum vs How Mine (Mandava) Sunday: Caps United vs Chiredzi (Rufaro), Chicken Inn vs Hwange (Luveve, live on SuperSport 9)