HIGHLANDERS coach Baltemar Brito is targeting winning everything on offer in the local league as the Bulawayo giants start their Chibuku Super campaign with a first-round tie against Bulawayo Chiefs at Barbourfields Stadium on Sunday.
With Highlanders looking good in their pursuit of the Castle Lager Premier Soccer League title, the Portuguese national said Highlanders can make it three out of three.
The Bulawayo giants already have the Independence Cup in the bag after beating Dynamos in the final in April.
In the league, they have gone 18 games unbeaten and they kick off the Chibuku Super Cup journey against the Ninjas who beat them in the quarter-finals last year.
“At the beginning of the season, the preparations and mindset were to improve from the last season. The responsibility to be champions; the squad is almost the same, everyone knows that we are competing, and we are doing well but the other clubs are well-resourced and investment in other clubs is higher than ours. Our target and our mindset since the beginning of the season have been improving on last season,” Brito said.
“About the cup (Chibuku Super) if coaches come to work (at Highlanders) and don’t behave professionally and are not winning the games, they should be fired. We are here and don’t want to be fired so we are preparing for the games to win. If we continue to win we can make it three (the Uhuru Cup, the Chibuku Super Cup and the league title).”
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The Bulawayo giants won the Chibuku Super Cup in 2019 under Dutchman Hendrikus Pieter de Jongh after beating Ngezi Platinum Stars 1-0 in the final, courtesy of now Tanzania-based Prince Dube’s goal.
They failed to defend the cup in the 2021-2022 season as they surrendered it to Bulawayo Chiefs who edged them 1-0 in the quarter-finals through a solitary goal by their captain Malvin Mkolo.
Last year, Highlanders had accounted for Triangle 1-0 in the first round of the tournament at Gibbo Stadium before the Ninjas ended their fine run.
Before Highlanders and Chiefs on Sunday, Dynamos will be at Barbourfields once again this time for the Chibuku Super Cup first round against Simba Bhora tomorrow.
It will be their first match under interim coach Genesis Mangombe following the sacking of Herbert Maruwa on Tuesday.
Across town at Luveve Stadium, Chicken Inn take on Green Fuel also in the first round of the competition.
First Round Fixtures
Tomorrow: Ngezi Platinum vs Triangle (Gibbo), Manica Diamonds vs Black Rhinos (Gibbo), Chicken Inn vs Green Fuel (Luveve), FC Platinum vs Yadah (Mandava), Dynamos vs Simba Bhora (BF)
Sunday: Highlanders vs Bulawayo Chiefs (BF), Caps United v Hwange (Bata), Herentals vs ZPC Kariba (Mandava)