HIGHLANDERS coach Baltemar Brito has backed his players to return to winning ways against their fierce rivals Dynamos when the two giants of Zimbabwean football face off for the first time this season in a blockbuster clash at Babourfields Stadium on Saturday.
Bosso were made to rue a missed penalty by striker Lynoth Chikuhwa in the half as they settled for a goalless draw against Chicken Inn at Barbourfields Stadium on Good Friday.
The Bulawayo giants now already have their sights on the tie against DeMbare at Emagumeni, which is traditionally the biggest drawcard of the season.
The high profile encounter is expected to attract another big crowd as Highlanders continue to attract sellout crowds when they play at home, with more than 10 000 fans having paying to watch each of their matches’ against FC Platinum and Chicken Inn respectively.
The Bulawayo giants beat the champions FC Platinum 2-1 before the stalemate against The Gamecocks.
Bosso coach Brito challenged his players to rise to the occassion against Dynamos, arguing that these are the games that his boys should show what they are made off.
“If we had won this game it would have given us a good boost for the boy’s confidence for the big clash but it is in these times that you should show your true character and these boys need to understand that against Dynamos because there is only one score for us and that is winning. We will be at home and we should win. It’s the battle of Zimbabwe and we should win it. We should do our best to win,” Brito said after the Chicken Inn draw.
He believes his players had a good outing despite ffailing to collect maximum points after the missed penalty against Chicken Inn.
“We did a lot of things well in this game because if you look at the first half we should be proud of what the boys did. It wasn’t for the 90 minutes but the guys did well in the first half. We still have the hope. This is only the fourth round; the journey is still long and during that journey there will be ups and downs, there will be good and bad moments for all the teams.
"There will be moments; because of injuries, discipline that some games will not go so well. We have eight points. We did net concede and we have not lost. Everyone said we have tricky games in the first five games; we have two draws and two victories; we will try to make it three victories as we go to the next game (against Dynamos),” Brito said.
Meanwhile Dynamos host Cranborne Bullets at the National Sports Stadium tomorrow hoping to reclaim top spot.
CAPS United rule the roost with 10 points after dispatching Black Rhinos on Friday, with FC Platinum are second on nine after edging Bulawayo Chiefs.
Bosso are on third with eight points, one point ahead of fourth-placed Dynamos.