Tsiba boost for Bosso Eric Mudzingwa
Eric Mudzingwa

Eric Mudzingwa

Sikhumbuzo Moyo Senior Sports Reporter
CRESTFALLEN Highlanders welcome back tried and trusted utility player Erick “Tsiba” Mudzingwa who missed their 1-3 humbling by Caps United due to a stomach bug.

He will add the necessary steel and experience in central defence when Amahlolanyama take on bottom-placed Dongo Sawmill in a match that technical director Cosmos Zulu described as one of the toughest since their appointment as caretaker coaches.

One of the few players in the black and white army with a never-say-die spirit even when the chips are down, Mudzingwa’s presence tomorrow will not only instill confidence in the players but in the supporters as well.

Amahlolanyama crumbled like a deck of cards in their defeat to Caps United at the National Sport Stadium despite starting the second half on a positive note and pulling level through leading scorer Knox Mutizwa.

“Mudzingwa is back in the fold, so is Honest Moyo and Douglas Sibanda who had pulled up some knocks. I hope they don’t pull any during our last training sessions and if that doesn’t happen I’m certain we’ll have a very strong side on Sunday,” said Zulu while briefing journalists at a press conference on Thursday.

Zulu expressed satisfaction with the players’ response following the loss to Caps United. He said the level of commitment shown by their troops was quite encouraging.

“The commitment is really pleasing and as for the game on Sunday preparations have been thorough and we’re looking forward to a positive result. We need to win by whatever means necessary,” said Zulu.

Dongo Sawmill who have occupied basement territory since the start of the season might want to embarrass their troubled hosts in front of their own supporters tomorrow. Zulu though is aware of that danger.

“It’ll be folly for us to underrate them simply because they’re bottom of the standings. In fact this is going to be one of the toughest games since we took over but we believe we’re preparing well and we must collect three points,” said the veteran coach.

The Rusape-based outfit still believe they will survive relegation and will therefore fight to the bitter end against Highlanders tomorrow.

Club owner Francis Dongo told our Mutare Bureau that his team will fight to the bitter end.

“I think mathematically we still have a chance to survive and we’ll accordingly fight to the bitter end. We can’t afford to just throw in the towel before it is game over.

“I’m quite aware that our remaining fixtures are not that easy but that’s nature of the game.

“One will never have easy fixtures especially at this stage of the season.

“We’ll give it our best shot and try to ensure that Rusape enjoys Premiership football once again next season,” said Dongo.

The visitors have to worry a lot about the exploits of Bosso’s hitman Mutizwa who has said he intends to score in all the remaining matches that he will play in.

Mutizwa, whose contract runs out at the end of the year, sits on 11 goals one more than his closest rival Edmore Chirambadare of Chicken Inn.

Both players though are certain entrants in the 2015 Soccer Stars of the Year calendar and the zeal to grab a double might push them on.

At the Colliery, a potentially exciting match is on the cards when the coal miners welcome airmen Chapungu.

The two sides fired blanks in the reverse fixture at Ascot Stadium in April.

Natural factors though might play a huge part in the direction of the match as the visitors could struggle to cope with the high temperatures in Hwange at this time of the year, with weather experts warning of a heat wave.

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