Kutsanzira vows Bosso is ending DeMbare dominance Rahman Kutsanzira
 Rahman Kutsanzira

Rahman Kutsanzira

Sikhumbuzo Moyo, Senior Sports Reporter
HIGHLANDERS’ on-fire winger Rahman Kutsanzira says today’s blockbuster encounter  against  their perennial rivals Dynamos at Rufaro Stadium presents him with an opportunity for a belated birthday celebration.

The lively winger, enjoying a rich vein of form so far this season, turned  28 on Africa Day and put on hold his celebrations to today.  He said victory over their biggest rivals will be far sweeter than whatever present his family or friends  gave him on Wednesday.

“It’s a perfect opportunity for me and my colleagues.  We’re ready. We’re not here on holiday but to collect maximum points and rewrite history as the crop of players that stopped these guys’ dominance over such a giant like Highlanders.  For me, it’ll just be a perfect gift,” he said.

Kutsanzira, who is familiar with the Astroturf at Rufaro Stadium having spent time with Caps United before retracing his roots to Bosso, said everyone in the team was prepared to put up an extra effort in a bid to collect maximum points and that win must be emphatic.

“Yes, they’ve dominated us for a long time but that record on its own is actually motivating us. We’re more than eager to stop it and stop it emphatically,” he said.

Highlanders arrived in Harare yesterday afternoon, having left Bulawayo early morning yesterday.

The two giants will welcome back their ‘princes’, one real and the other imaginary. Highlanders will have Prince Dube who missed the 1-1 draw with Harare City while DeMbare’s Rodrick Mutuma, nicknamed Prince, makes a return to the starting lineup following an injury-enforced leave.
Bruce Kangwa also returns for Highlanders, setting the stage for a blood and thunder affair.

A victory for Dynamos will see them take their points tally to 11, three behind Highlanders who are on 14 from a possible 21.

With Tendai Ndlovu ruled out, Highlanders’ central defence will be marshaled by skipper Felix Chindungwe and Erick Mudzingwa while Honest Moyo and Benson Phiri will be taking care of business on the left and right side of defence.

Phiri though needs to avoid his mistimed overlapping runs, especially with Simon Munawa playing as a holding midfielder. Normally when the left or right back overlaps, the holding midfielder is supposed to cover up the gap instead of having a central defender having to do that like what happened when Harare City scored their goal.

Livewire Kutsanzira will be deployed on the right side of the midfield and Kangwa on the left while dribbling menace and former Dynamos junior King Nadolo will be behind the two strikers, likely to be Ralph Matema and Prince Dube. Dependable Ariel Sibanda, who has not had the best of luck when it comes to Dynamos will once again guard the goal line.

For the Glamour Boys, still celebrating after that morale boosting 1-0 win over Tsholotsho last Saturday, focus will naturally be on Mutuma who just like assistant coach Murape Murape during his playing days, always haunts the Bulawayo giants.

The midfield will have skipper Stephen Alimenda, and Bret Amidu being  given the role of stopping the Bosso machinery.

Tendai Mukuruva will keep goals for the Harare giants supported by the gangly Sydney Linyama, Elisha Muroiwa, one of the most consistent Dynamos sons, Ocean Mushure as well as Obey Mwerahari and Godknows Murwira.

Farai Mupasiri, so lethal on his day will be another player that needs to be kept under wraps as well as Richard Kawondera although he has not really been the same ever since joining DeMbare from Triangle.

The teams’ strengths:
Dynamos:  Their right wing offensive movements are deadly as Mwerahari and Murwira easily inter-change, covering for each other when one overlaps, making it difficult for the opposition defence.

Highlanders: Prince Dube’s movement on and off the ball in the final third is perfect especially with the presence of Kangwa.

Weaknesses:
Dynamos: They will be at their weakest if Mushure makes an overlapping run as there will be no one covering the gap left behind.

Highlanders: If Munawa plays in the holding position he has no defensive qualities because the anchorman is supposed to destroy opposition attacks. He also lacks the positional discipline required of an anchorman.

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