WITH the Castle Lager Premier Soccer League silverware seemingly out of reach, Highlanders have now placed hopes of redecorating their trophy cabinet on the Chibuku Super Cup tournament.
Bosso roll into Wadzanayi Stadium on Sunday hoping to do what no team has managed to achieve this season — defeating Simba Bhora in their backyard.
Morale has hit its lowest ebb in the Bosso camp following a dismal run in the league.
They picked two points from their last four league games and the 3-2 defeat to Caps United on Sunday in a match they led 2-0 at some point, extinguished their chances of winning the league title this season.
Highlanders fell 2-1 to Simba Bhora in the league at Wadzanai in July.
The Bulawayo giants gaffer Kelvin Kaindu admits that things have not panned out well for his team, but remains confident that they can turn things around in the Cup competition.
“Looking at the points’ difference [15 points] with the team that is on top, it makes it very difficult, but football being football, we still hope, but our biggest hope now is to focus on the Chibuku,” Kaindu said.
The Zambian national believes he can still bring back confidence to his boys.
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“This is a crucial moment, a moment when you need to stay with everyone. It needs more of the psychological part than anything,” he said.
“Results come, results go, but what is important is that football is a results-oriented thing and even when you win, people will be happy and all of a sudden they forget about that.
“We are being given another opportunity to play with Simba and we play them at the moment when they have picked up form. They are consistent, but we hope to turn around our fortunes and bounce back.”
Added Kaindu: “We still believe and we still have confidence. At the moment, it’s what we have that we can rely on, so we keep motivating each other that football is like that.”
Defender Archford Faira and Malvin Sibanda are still out injured, while striker Nqobile Ndlovu must pass a late fitness test.
Bosso welcome back goalkeeper Raphael Pitisi, but will miss three of their players, Prince Ndlovu, Mvelo Khoza and Nigel Banda, who have been called up for the Under-20 squad for the Cosafa tournament.
“We have a bit of good news and bad news. The good news is we have Raphael Pitisi back. We have three of our junior players that have been called up to the Under-20 national team. We are disadvantaged with our injuries that we can’t even come up with 18 of the in-field players. We have to work with what is available.”
