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Ricky Zililo Senior Sports Reporter
WILL Castle Lager Premier Soccer League debutants Tsholotsho FC floor Bulawayo giants Highlanders when they square off at Barbourfields Stadium on Sunday? Iziqholo zeZhwane put up a spirited show getting maximum points against Harare City on the first day of the 2015 Premiership season with a 1-0 win.

Unheralded Simbarashe Gorogodyo scored the solitary goal for Tsholotsho FC and now the question is, will they add more misery on Bosso who lost 2-0 away to ZPC Kariba at the weekend?

Gorogodyo scored the Premiership’s first goal for 2015.

What made Tsholotsho FC’s victory even sweeter is the fact that they didn’t go for big names when they won promotion.

Coach Lizwe Sweswe kept faith in his “nonentities” and they showed that money may not buy success as they beat an expensively assembled Harare City.

Tsholotsho FC were compact when defending as well as on attack.

Their strategy was simple, to absorb pressure from Harare City and get them on the break.

Tsholotsho FC left the Sunshine City boys who had among their off-season big name signings Tendai Samanja, goalkeeper Tafadzwa Dube, defender Themba Ndlovu and striker Honey Chimutimunzeve without a glow.

Ocient Ncube and Butholezwe Ncube — not brothers — were on top of their game in midfield thwarting most Harare City’s build ups in the middle while rightback MacClive Phiri, a pre-season Bosso target, also had a good game.

Goalkeeper Mariyoni Cheng proved to be a safe pair of hands for the Zhwane Boys.

Now, facing a Highlanders side which just like Harare City bolstered their team in the off season, will Tsholotsho FC be the biblical David and floor Goliath?

Bosso’s unheralded gem is striker Thomas Chideu who they got from Harare’s DC Academy.

Even after losing a significant amount of their BancABC sponsorship package, Highlanders managed to attract seasoned players in Tendai Ngulube, Obidiah Tarumbwa, Edmore Muzanenhamo, Teenage Hadebe, Nqobizitha Masuku and Julius Daudi.

All these players have Premiership experience.

Highlanders playing away at their favourite fortress Barbourfields Stadium are hard-pressed for a win as their hard to please supporters want nothing other than a victory.

In his post defeat interview, Highlanders coach Bongani Mafu was wary of Tsholotsho FC. “Tactically we’re alright it’s only the mental aptitude that we’ve to develop,” he said.

Tsholotsho FC are also not reading much into their first victory with Sweswe believing it gives them something to build on.

“We don’t have to get carried away because that can be bad for us and can undo all the work that we’ve been doing. I believe the victory gave us something that we can build on,” Sweswe said.

For him and his boys, strength of character will be put to test as playing at a packed Barbourfields Stadium has in the past proved either scary or motivating for visiting players.

How the novices will play is what excites football enthusiasts and could guarantee a full house.

Apart from Tsholotsho FC, Chicken Inn who travel to Harare City following a 2-1 win against newboys Flame Lily, will be hoping that their new signing Edmore Chirambadare who scored one of the goals and engineered another, continues with his good debut form.

Chirambadare, a former Tsholotsho FC striker who scored 16 goals for them last season, gave the Gamecocks the opener and hit the upright with Mitchelle Katsvairo slotting home the rebound.

Big spenders How Mine, who bought stars like Charles Sibanda, Devon Chafa, Limited Chikafa, Munyaradzi Diya and Tawanda Muparati got off to a low start, playing to a 0-0 draw with Chapungu.

The goldminers travel to Rusape’s Vengere Stadium for a date with Dongo Sawmills who gave FC Platinum a scare in a 2-2 scoreline draw at Mandava Stadium.