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Ricky Zililo Senior Sports Reporter
HIGHLANDERS FC will be out to end the season on a high note when they take on ZPC Kariba in their final Castle Lager Premier Soccer League match of the season at Barbourfields Stadium this afternoon. Bosso have had an indifferent 2015 campaign by their standards.

The fading Bulawayo giants are on position six with 41 points, 17 behind champions Chicken Inn.

Bosso entertain prospects of a top five finish in the event that they beat the electricity generators and fifth placed Caps United lose or draw at home against Whawha, which is very unlikely.

Highlanders’ technical director Cosmas “Tsano” Zulu said they are expecting a tough match against ZPC Kariba, a side that they are yet to beat after three meetings.

ZPC Kariba are in their second Premiership season and last year held Bosso to a 1-1 draw in the first leg before handing the Bulawayo giants a 3-1 defeat in the City of Kings.

ZPC Kariba’s 3-1 win in Bulawayo abruptly ended Kelvin Kaindu’s tenure at Bosso as the Zambian gaffer and Bosso players had to scurry for cover from missiles thrown by Highlanders fans.

Highlanders, who lost 0-2 to ZPC Kariba in the opening match of the 2015 season, will be hoping to claim their opponents’ scalp at Emagumeni this afternoon and go on a six-match unbeaten run in the league.

“We’re taking the game against ZPC Kariba seriously. Personally I’m looking at a top five finish because if we beat ZPC Kariba and Caps United draw, we’ll leapfrog them. That’s why Saturday’s game is important to us. If we finish fifth that’ll give Highlanders a bit of respect which as giants they deserve,” said Zulu.

“Playing ZPC Kariba won’t be easy. To show our seriousness towards winning this game, we’ve been squeezing three-hour training sessions per day. They also have a good coach in Sunday Chidzambwa who is very shrewd. We’re prepared to fight that battle.”

Highlanders will bank on the league’s leading scorer and Soccer Star of the Year favourite Knox Mutizwa to lead their attack against the electricity generators.

Mutizwa has 14 PSL goals, three ahead of Chicken Inn’s talisman Edmore Chirambadare and Raphael Manuvire of ZPC Kariba.

Highlanders coach Amini Soma-Phiri is likely to throw in a three-man attacking combination of Mutizwa, Obidiah Tarumbwa and Ralph Matema.

On a good day, defenders should be afraid of the Bosso attacking trio.

If Soma-Phiri decides to go with a three-man attack, he is likely to have three midfielders Simon Munawa, Nqobizitha Masuku and Valentine Ndaba.

The defensive quartet of skipper Felix Chindungwe, Teenage Hadebe, Bruce Kangwa and Peter Muduhwa will provide cover for an improved goalkeeper Ariel Sibanda.

ZPC Kariba have experienced central defenders in Thomas Sweswe, who will be facing his former club and reigning Soccer Star of the Year Dennis Dauda to bank on.

They also have goalkeeper Tendai “Fish” Hove, Manuvire, Limited Chikafa, Tsepo Ranthokoane and Russell Madamombe, among other players to inspire them against Bosso.

In Hwange, the coalminers will play host to Triangle United who have already secured a top four finish.

Hwange, seventh on the table with 39 points, need victory to earn a top eight finish. A win will see Chipangano avoiding being toppled by Harare City who are on position eight and Chapungu who are tied on 38 points.

Castle Lager Premier Soccer League

Matchday 30

Today: Chapungu v How Mine (Ascot), Tsholotsho FC v Harare City (White City), Caps United v Whawha (National Sports Stadium), Flame Lily v Chicken Inn (Lafarge), Dongo Sawmill v FC Platinum (Vengere), Buffaloes v Dynamos (Sakubva), Hwange v Triangle United (Colliery), Highlanders v ZPC Kariba (Barbourfields)

Table

P W D L F A GD Pts

Chicken Inn 29 17 7 5 43 22 21 58

FC Platinum 29 15 9 5 51 22 29 54

Dynamos 29 14 12 3 35 20 15 54

Triangle 29 12 10 7 44 24 20 46

Caps United 29 10 13 6 26 22 4 43

Highlanders 29 11 8 10 37 30 7 41

Hwange 29 9 12 8 31 30 1 39

Harare City 29 8 14 7 28 26 2 38

Chapungu 29 9 11 9 26 27 -1 38

ZPC Kariba 29 8 11 10 39 37 2 35

How Mine 29 8 10 11 28 34 -6 34

Tsholotsho FC 29 6 12 11 19 29 -10 30

Buffaloes 29 6 11 12 23 41 -17 29

Flame Lily 29 4 14 11 23 33 -10 26

Whawha 29 4 11 14 16 48 -32 23

Dongo Sawmill 29 4 9 16 17 42 -25 21