Two of the traditional giants of Zimbabwe football Highlanders and Dynamos have promised fireworks when they clash in the Independence Trophy set for Mt Darwin on Tuesday.
The two teams were initially supposed to face each other in the league yesterday, but the match was cancelled at the behest of the Sports and Recreation Commission to allow for the clubs to exert all their energies towards Uhuru Cup.
Highlanders wrested the Cup from Dynamos in a tension-filled final at Barbourfields Stadium last year courtesy of an all-important Stanley Ngala strike.
The winners of the Uhuru Cup reportedly pocketed US$30 000 from Sakunda Holdings and the $6 million prize money from the government while the runners-up got US$9 000 and $4,5 million respectively.
It is not clear how much prize money is on offer for the competition this year.
But what is guaranteed is excitement whenever the two protagonists clash.
Bosso coach Baltemar Brito, under fire from some circles over his sentiments concerning the cancellation of their big league game against Dynamos, believes the clubs’ vocal and passionate fans will tilt the match in their favour.
"We have good things to say to the supporters.
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"They are coming in good numbers; they are pushing the team, they are motivating the boys and the boys are trying their best to do everything to make the fans happy as well,” he said.
"But the football journey in a season will have ups and downs and there will be bad games and we will try to balance things to provide good football for the supporters for them to be happy. They are the heart of Highlanders. If they want the club to be strong they have to understand that they are the heart of the club and have to make it bigger and bigger because coaches and players go, but they stay with the club until they die," he added.
The Portuguese gaffer torched a storm when he said the postponement of the league game was done to protect a weak and depleted Dynamos side.
Dynamos on the other hand will be looking to reclaim the title they won in 2021 in Harare as the match will be played outside Harare and Bulawayo for the first time.
Pfura sports stadium will host the epic encounter.
However, the Glamour Boys will be missing a number of their senior players namely Denver Mukamba, captain Frank Makarati, Donald Mudadi and goalkeeper Prince Tafiremutsa through injury.
Coach Herbert Maruwa vowed to select a strong team capable of beating Highlanders.
“Everybody who is registered is capable of playing so we are basically going to field a strong team.
"The team which was going to play in the league is the team we are going to play in the Cup,” he said.
Maruwa is not worried about the team’s recent slump, which has seen them draw in their last two league encounters.
“The team is doing well. The team has managed eight out of a possible 12 points, which I think is good for us. We are in the right direction.
“Defensively we are doing well, we need to improve our finishing which I think is not very bad but we need to make sure we have the right combinations and also try and create as many chances,” he said.
Dynamos and Highlanders have had a promising start to the league this season as they occupy third and fourth place respectively with eight points from the opening four matches, but the Harare giants have a superior goal difference.
