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Ricky Zililo Senior Sports Reporter
BULAWAYO City say they will not be intimidated by Dynamos when the two sides clash in a Castle Lager Premier Soccer League encounter at Barbourfields Stadium tomorrow.

City coach Philani Ncube sad it is instead the Harare giants that are under pressure for results.

The municipal team is 10th on the league table with 14 points and goes into tomorrow’s tie smarting from a 1-2 loss to Caps United last Sunday.

Ncube thinks DeMbare’s quest for a fourth consecutive victory could make the former champions vulnerable should they fail to get an early lead.

City are aware that morale is high in the Dynamos camp following three consecutive wins over Chapungu, Ngezi Platinum and Harare City.

City have picked just three points from a possible nine in their previous three matches. They lost to Caps United and Harare City, and beat debutants Mutare City Rovers last month.

But can Ncube’s charges stop Dynamos who are making a steady rise on the league table?

Dynamos’ last defeat was a 0-2 thumping by bitter rivals Highlanders at Rufaro Stadium on May 28.

Tomorrow’s visit to Bulawayo is Dynamos’ third of the season. In their previous trips, DeMbare lost 0-3 to Chicken Inn in the season’s opener before beating Tsholotsho FC 1-0.

“Obviously Dynamos are a big team and we respect them, but we’re ready for the game. They’re enjoying a fine run and psychologically they’re strong, which means they’re feeling some pressure because they don’t want to lose,” said Ncube.

“If we don’t concede an early goal, I believe they’ll feel the pressure and who knows, we might be able to get them if we get our tactics right. How we do our transitions from defence to attack or vice-versa will be key for us,” he said.

The 2009 PSL Coach of the Year is hoping his strikers get it right against the former champions.

“We’ve to bury the chances we create because if we don’t, we will pay heavily. Everyone in the team knows what they’re supposed to do and I’ve faith in my players to deliver,” Ncube said.

Some of the players Ncube will be banking on include defenders Lewis Ncube, Brian Chikwenya and Zibusiso Sibanda. They also have skipper Xolisani Moyo, Sipho Dube, Innocent Kutsanzira, Welcome Ndiweni, Manuel Mandiranga and Eddie Nkulungo, who are capable of matching Dynamos’ midfield.

Mkhokheli Dube, Trevor Ndlovu, Thomas Chimenya, Humphrey Ncube and Mkhululi Moyo will be competing to lead City’s front line.

City should pay close attention to Dynamos’ attacking youngsters Kinga Nasama and Kudzanai Nyakasaka, as well as Dynamos’ player of the moment Masimba Mambare.

Goalkeeper Tatenda Mukuruva, who spent four days attending trials with South Africa’s Maritzburg United, defenders Augustine Mbara and Sydney Linyama, midfielders Stephen Alimenda and Godknows Murwira are the players expected to drive Dynamos.

Meanwhile, City’s chairman Jerry Sibanda said they’ve given the Dynamos Bulawayo Supporters’ Chapter the green light to collect donations for their fans that survived a fatal accident last month.

Bulawayo-based Dynamos’ supporters intend to raise funds for survivors of the accident that occurred on June 11 when a Sprinter they were travelling in burst a rear tyre, veered off the road and rolled three times near Battlefields along the Harare-Bulawayo highway.

The fans were travelling for a Dynamos league match against Chapungu at Ascot Stadium in Gweru.

Seven supporters died on the spot, while two others later died in hospital.

“What has been agreed is that Dynamos supporters’ leaders will collect donations at the gates, which are at the Mpilo End and everything has to be done before 2.30PM. Those coming to the stadium should come early,” said Sibanda.

City will not hike gate charges for the game. Entry charges are pegged at $3 for the rest of the ground, $5 for the VIP wings and $10 for the VIP.

Fixtures

Tomorrow: ZPC Kariba v Chapungu (Nyamhunga), Bulawayo City v Dynamos (Barbourfields), How Mine v Ngezi Platinum Stars (Luveve)

Sunday: Chicken Inn v Highlanders (Barbourfields), Border Strikers v Harare City (Dulivhadzimu), Triangle United v Tsholotsho FC (Gibbo), Mutare City Rovers v FC Platinum (Sakubva), Caps United v Hwange (National Sports Stadium)

Table

P W D L F A GD Pts

Highlanders 11 8 2 1 20 6 14 26

Caps United 11 7 3 1 17 8 9 24

FC Platinum 10 7 2 1 13 4 9 23

ZPC Kariba 11 6 3 2 14 9 5 21

Dynamos 11 5 2 4 9 9 0 17

Triangle United 11 4 4 3 10 10 0 16

Harare City 11 4 3 4 14 10 4 15

Chicken Inn 10 4 2 4 10 7 3 14

How Mine 11 3 5 3 11 11 0 14

Bulawayo City 11 3 5 3 10 11 -1 14

Hwange 11 4 2 5 7 11 -4 14

Chapungu 11 2 5 4 10 13 -3 11

Ngezi Platinum 11 3 2 6 10 14 -4 11

Mutare City 11 3 0 8 7 20 -13 9

Tsholotsho 11 2 2 7 6 12 -6 8

Border Strikers 11 1 0 10 2 15 -13 3