HIGHLANDERS coach Kelvin Kaindu is hopeful that youthful midfielder Prince Ndlovu’s stellar performance for the Under-20 Young Warriors in a Cosafa competition recently translates into the local league.
The Bulawayo giants hit the road to Mutare, where they face Manica Diamonds in a Castle Lager Premier Soccer League Premier Soccer League encounter at Sakubva Stadium on Sunday barely three weeks after Ndlovu dazzled in the Cosafa youth tournament in Mozambique.
Ndlovu missed Highlanders’ 2-0 win over ZPC Kariba as he was in Mozambique.
He rose from the bench and scored a brace to make it 2-2 for the Young Warriors after they had gone behind 2-0 against Zambia.
It is that performance that has got Kaindu buzzing before the Manica Diamonds match.
“With the coming in of the two Under-20 players, and the performance that they displayed; we saw Prince scoring when they participated in the Under-20 competition,” the Zambian mentor said.
“It’s a good motivation for the team and we just hope that he can duplicate that in the league as well.”
The Bulawayo giants gaffer believes his side still has an opportunity to better its position with the few games remaining and the Manica Diamonds’ tie is interesting as both sides are fighting for the fourth spot after Sunday as they have played the same number of games, are both on 44 points after each winning 11 games, playing 11 draws and losing seven times and the discrepancy being in the goal difference.
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“It’s probably one of the most interesting games of the season so far. We are even on points. If you look at the log standings, we have an identical number of games that have been won, an identical number of games that have been drawn and an identical number of games that have been lost,” Kaindu said.
“The only thing that separates us is the goal difference. This makes it very interesting that both teams will be fighting for the fourth position. I am sure it is going to be an open game. Everybody will want to get maximum points.
“Aspirations are still open. There are still a number of games to be played for and points to be competed for and this is the most important game because we are tied on the points.”
The game is also an opportunity for striker Lynoth Chikuhwa to increase his tally in the scorers’ chart, where he is battling for the Golden Boot award with the likes of Caps United’s William Manondo and Khama Billiat of Yadah.
The three lead the charts with 12 goals apiece.
