HIGHLANDERS coach Kelvin Kaindu is not paying attention to Dynamos’ internal challenges and expects them to be at their best when the two teams clash in a Castle Lager Premier Soccer League match at Rufaro Stadium on Sunday.
Dynamos players last week embarked on an industrial action demanding outstanding bonuses and only resumed training on Wednesday. The Highlanders mentor is not reading much into the strife in their rivals camp.
“It makes it very difficult when you are playing a team that has its in-house problems. You may be misled and it may also affect you one way or another, but we don’t know what is happening behind closed doors,” Kaindu said.
“If you look at the magnitude of this game, whether they are training or not, it is a game that everyone wants to come and watch and we are not dwelling much on that [the turmoil at Dynamos]. We just want to focus on this game and remain positive.”
All is well in the Bosso camp, save for goalkeeper Raphael Pitisi, who will have to pass a fitness test as he started training on Wednesday since his return from Warriors’ duty in the Cosafa tournament in South Africa.
Defender Andrew Tandi, who was a fringe player in the first half of the season, has been ruled out of the tie.
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Bosso are boosted by the return of left-back Archford Faira from injury.
Kaindu spoke of his latest acquisition Never Rauzhi, who joined the Bulawayo giants on loan from Bulawayo Chiefs, but was coy about the striker featuring in the big game on Sunday.
“I think we needed depth. We relied so much on one player [Brighton Ncube]. It was a bit unhealthy for him. Even when he had a minor injury, we still had to play him,” the Bosso gaffer said.
“In football, you need to have options, especially when things are not working out. He has done quite well. He has given us five goals and we expect more.
“Rauzhi is a good player, from where he has been playing. We just hope it will be easy for him to adapt to where the team wants him to play.
“I cannot get into details on where he will play on Sunday. If somebody has come in, it gives you more options, but I cannot get into detail.”
Kaindu admitted that Highlanders struggled during the first half of the season and expected competition to be stiffer in the second half.
“It was not as we anticipated [first half]. We could have done better than where we are,” he said.
“There are areas that we have improved and there are areas where we have failed to consolidate our performance looking at how the team played last year in terms of scoring.
“But also our biggest upset was how we managed to concede a number of goals especially that the team did quite well in terms of defending last season.
“We are anticipating that as we get into the second round, it becomes more difficult because people are now pushing for the championship and pushing to survive relegation.”
Kaindu added: “It becomes a bit tricky. But if you look at the log standings, there has been an improvement in competition.
“The points difference with everyone is quite minimal. One game makes a difference; if you can pick up three points three games in a row, you will see there is an improvement in the log standings.”