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Tapiwa Dephistard

Sports Reporter
THE second half of the Premiership kicks off this weekend with table toppers Highlanders, who face Bantu Rovers in a Bulawayo derby, confident of a successful campaign.Speaking at the unveiling of their second midseason signing Tapiwa “Sugar” Dephistara at the Highlanders Clubhouse yesterday afternoon, Bosso assistant coach Mark Mathe said they are working round the clock to bring glory to the club.

Highlanders last won the championship in 2006 under Methembe Ndlovu.

“Our plea to all the Highlanders fans is for them to be patient with the team. In as much as we are mandated to achieve set targets as coaches, we are working hard for the success of the team and it (success) is coming,” said Mathe.

The Bulawayo giants have managed to collect 30 points in the first 15 games and just like they have done in the last two seasons, they are at the top of the table on the halfway mark, three points above unbeaten ZPC Kariba, Dynamos and Caps United.

Dephistara, a former Gunners FC attacking midfielder, joins Bosso from log anchors Chiredzi and it remains to be seen whether the boy plucked from the struggling Eastern Lowveld club could turn out to be a gem at the Bulawayo giants.

The other midseason buy King Nadolo made his first appearance for Bosso during their 2-1 win over How Mine.

Dephistara, who is in the running for a place in the squad that will face Bantu Rovers on Sunday, said he is looking forward to a fruitful stay at Bosso and hopefully he will not be a mid-year signing flop like Tinashe Chipunza and Master Masitara who had a nightmarish six months stay at Highlanders last season.

“I am happy to sign for a big club like Highlanders. I am looking forward to winning major cups in my next two years at this great club which has lots of history.

“I know the pressure that is associated with playing for a big team because I have seen the demands from their supporters when playing against them. I made my PSL debut at Gunners and the good thing at Highlanders is that I am re-uniting with Valentine Ndaba whom I played with the year Gunners were relegated at the end of 2012,” said Dephistara.

The new signing is an attacking linkman who can also play as a winger and competes for a starting place with Joel Ngodzo, Welcome Ndiweni, Knox Mutizwa, Nadolo and young Godfrey “Baba Jukwa” Makaruse.

Fixures

Friday: How Mine v Black Rhinos (Luveve)

Saturday: Chapungu v Triangle United (Ascot); Chicken Inn v ZPC Kariba (Luveve)

Sunday: Dynamos v Caps United (National Sports Stadium, 3PM SuperSport); Chiredzi v Buffaloes (Chishamiso); Bantu Rovers v Highlanders (Barbourfields); Shabanie Mine v FC Platinum (Maglas); Hwange v Harare City (Colliery)