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Kudakwashe Mahachi

Ricky Zililo Senior Sports Reporter—
CAN Highlanders break the seven-year jinx against Dynamos at the National Sports Stadium on Sunday? This is the question that most local soccer enthusiasts are asking themselves as the first part of the epic battle between the two rivals draws closer. The Bulawayo giants last beat Dynamos in 2006, the year they last laid their hands on the Premiership trophy. That season, Highlanders edged DeMbare 0-1 at Rufaro Stadium in the first leg and went on to beat their perennial rivals 2-0 at Barbourfields Stadium.

Since then, Highlanders is yet to collect maximum points against Dynamos in their last 14 league matches. The best that Bosso has done is to draw seven times, losing as many times.
Despite Highlanders going for seven years without registering a win against their adversaries, Bosso coach Kelvin Kaindu insists that there is nothing special about their Sunday rivals.

He believes that the pressure to end the bridesmaid tag that has been hovering over Bosso has contributed to Highlanders’ failure to beat Dynamos.
The Zambian has faced Dynamos in four league matches, lost only once last season at Barbourfields Stadium to the Glamour boys, drawing three times.

“The important thing is to take this game just like any other match. We have to be focused just like we have done in other league games because Dynamos are in the same league as other teams that we have played. I understand and appreciate the rivalry that exists between the two teams but I also feel that pressure of dwelling much in history has also been a reason why the team has failed to get maximum points. Thinking about past results leads to disruption of players’ focus and that is one thing that we don’t want to do,” said Kaindu.

Having seen his side losing the championship to Dynamos twice in the last two seasons, tied on points but having an inferior goal difference, Kaindu and his boys will be hoping to collect maximum points against the defending champions who have not had the best start to the season.

Highlanders are hard-pressed to stop Dynamos’ dominance and history has it that even if Dynamos are not at their best, they tend to raise their game when they face Bosso and it remains to be seen if the Bulawayo giants will come up with a winning formula on Sunday.

A relief for Kaindu is that Warriors midfielder Kudakwashe Mahachi who picked up a knock in their 1-1 draw with Triangle at the weekend is responding well to treatment.
“Mahachi is recovering and that is good. Everyone at camp is working hard like they always do and we pray that we do not have any of our players picking up injuries going to the weekend,” Kaindu said.
If fit, Mahachi will play in his first “big match” in the local league of his career as nothing beats the Highlanders-Dynamos euphoria on the domestic scene.

Also in line to feature in the “Battle of the Giants” are Bosso’s and joint overrall second leading goal scorer Charles Sibanda, Khumbulani Banda, Felix Chindungwe and Valentine Ndaba who joined Highlanders at the beginning of the year.

On the other hand, Dynamos will not be pushovers with their pre-season signings Walter Mukanga, Ronald Chitiyo, Tafadzwa Rusike and Themba Ndlovu who would want to be involved.
The game changer for Dynamos that Highlanders have to look out for is Cliff Sekete.

Dynamos manager Richard Chihoro said their preparations for Sunday are on track.
“We are moving on from the defeat against Hwange and everyone is working hard to be in the team that will play Highlanders. Our preparations are going on well, so far so good,” said Chihoro.
Masimba Mambare who has been injured for the better part of the first third of the season is unlikely to be ready for Highlanders as he is still recuperating.

Fixtures
Tomorrow: Chapungu v Harare City (Ascot, 3PM SS)
Saturday: Bantu Rovers v Buffaloes (Luveve), Black Rhinos v Triangle United (Rimuka, 3PM SS)
Sunday: Dynamos v Highlanders (National Sports Stadium, 3PM SS), Hwange v Chicken Inn (Colliery), How Mine v FC Platinum (Luveve), Shabanie Mine v ZPC Kariba (Maglas), Chiredzi v Caps United (Chishamiso).