BUOYED by their home win over Arenel Movers on Wednesday, Highlanders will hit the road to Mandava Stadium tomorrow to face FC Platinum, eyeing another morale boosting win that could help them close gap on teams above them.
Bosso made light work of Arenel, beating the promoted side 2-0, thanks to goals from Lynoth Chikuhwa and Gillian Nyathi.
It was Chikuhwa’s 11th goal of the season to move joint top with Khama Billiat and William Manondo in the race for the Golden Boot award.
With 15 points separating Highlanders with log leaders Simba Bhora, it appears the Bulawayo giants’ focus now is to finish on a respectable position rather than anything else.
Bosso currently sit fifth on the log standings, six points behind second-placed FC Platinum and one behind Ngezi Platinum Stars and Manica Diamonds.
They could do themselves a world of good if they could claim three points against the Zvishavane-based side this weekend, which could see them leapfrog Ngezi Platinum Stars and Manica Diamonds into third position on the log standings.
Coach Kelvin Kaindu knows victory over FC Platinum will not only be a huge step in the right direction, but could also help appease a section of the club’s supporters who are increasingly losing faith in the Zambian gaffer.
Some hardliners believe the win over relegation strugglers Arenel Movers, which came on the back of a four-match winless run, only helped to paper over some cracks.
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Kaindu is also well aware of that, hence the desperate need for him to pick maximum points this weekend.
“We had not won for some time, but we don’t want to be carried away because we have got a game on Saturday and we have few days to prepare and we still have a number of players that are out limping,” he said.
“The game against FC Platinum is another match in which we need to focus and hopefully we maintain our consistency in terms of the results.”
He added: “If you look at the points difference with the teams that are closer to us, it is not much, but also looking at the team that is at the summit, if we can manage to pick up points here and there, especially if we have a midweek and a weekend game, it gives you a lot of advantage if you maximise on picking up the six points.”
Highlanders make the trip to Zvishavane without Marvin Sibanda and Archford Faira, who are still out injured.
The good news is that they welcome back Marvelous Chigumira, who missed Wednesday’s match due to suspension.
Arenel will have to quickly pick themselves up from the midweek setback and prepare to face Hwange in a relegation scrap at Luveve tomorrow.
Ahead of the match, coach Philani “Beefy” Ncube hinted that all is not well financially in the sweet makers’ camp, but has vowed to keep the struggling side afloat.
“If we are going to be relegated, that would be on the last day of the season. Our chances of surviving are 50-50 at the present moment,” he expressed hope.
“Hwange are a bogey side and anything can happen, but we need to maximise. We need to get maximum points. We are no longer worried about how we are going to win and scorelines. We just need to win our remaining games.”
Hwange are going into the match with their tails up after beating Caps United 2-0 at the Colliery on Wednesday.
The coal miners remain in the danger zone, on position 17 on the table with 21 points, a point above bottom-placed Chegutu Pirates.
