Mathe banks on home crowd
Sp2

Mark Mathe

Nkosilathi Sibanda
HIGHLANDERS’ assistant coach Mark Mathe is buoyant that his charges will have an upper hand over a bruised Harare City in today’s Independence Cup third place play-off at Barbourfields Stadium.Mathe will again be in charge of the game as head coach Kelvin Kaindu was not in camp this week.

Buoyed by a 4-1 routing of Shabanie Mine in last Sunday’s Castle Lager Premier Soccer league match, Mathe pins hope on his resurgent troops to land the third position of the Uhuru Cup.

“We are aiming for a win. Judging from our play last Sunday, I have the confidence that the team will win.  We are taking the game as a final and this is what I have told the boys.

“We remain cautious though, that Harare City also want to beat us. The advantage we have is that we are playing at home. This should boost the boys’ morale,”  said Mathe.

The hyped striker crisis at Bosso is likely not to bother Mathe as the team has been banging in the goals even without reliable gunners. Mathe is counted among the local football’s master tacticians and is expected to override his counterpart Bigboy Mawiwi at Harare City.

Although many will expect Mathe to retain last Sunday’s winning team, changes are likely to be made.

Bosso meet the unstable Harare City who are yet to taste victory this season. This afternoon the City boys will be without the services of trusted Nathan Ziwini, Martin Vengesai and Crybert Mubvuti.

In the capital, last year’s Uhuru Cup defenders Dynamos lock horns with FC Platinum at the National Sports Stadium. According to the Zimbabwe Football Association, this afternoon’s winner will pocket $7,000 while the losers get $5,000.

Zifa’s spokesperson Xolisani Gwesela said:

“The money is courtesy of the government as you are aware that these matches are part of the nation’s 34th independence celebrations.”

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