Ricky Zililo Senior Sports Reporter—
ZIMBABWE’S football powerhouses Dynamos and Highlanders meet for the fourth time this season when they clash in this afternoon’s TM Pick ‘n Pay Challenge Cup set for the National Sports Stadium in Harare. Dynamos have won all the three encounters — the season’s opener Bob 90 Super Cup which was meant to celebrate President Mugabe’s birthday and both league meetings.
Bulawayo giants Highlanders are out to redeem themselves while Dynamos are keen on continuing with their dominance over their archrivals.
Highlanders’ captain Innocent Mapuranga and his Dynamos counterpart Murape Murape spoke about pride being at stake more than the $60,000 prize money for the winners.
The losers will get $50,000.
“Everything that happens has its own time and I believe God’s time is always the best. This is our time and we are prepared to win this game at all costs. If you look at the last games that we have played we have dominated possession but just a little lapse in concentration has been detrimental to us.
“I believe we have what it takes to put to a stop Dynamos’ dominance and I think if we play our normal passing game and avoid mistakes we can win this one. We just have to restore our pride and thanks to TM, they have presented us with an opportunity to restore our battered image,” said Mapuranga.
Highlanders welcome back striker Charles Sibanda who missed the midweek goalless draw against Buffaloes due to suspension. Bosso did feel the absence of Sibanda as their forwards Njabulo Ncube and Gabriel Nyoni failed to hit the target despite giving the visitors’ defence some anxious moments.
Also making it into the travelling squad yesterday was former Ajax Cape Town FC player Simba Sithole who is among the five strikers that the Bosso coach Kelvin Kaindu took along for the TM Pick ‘n Pay Challenge Cup. Sibanda, Ncube, Nyoni, Sithole and Kudzanai Machazane are all competing for starting places.
Highlanders’ strike force on paper looks threatening and it remains to be seen whether they will be potent this afternoon after being set up by their midfielders who include nimble-footed Joel Ngodzo.
Of late Kaindu prefers to use double anchormen —Felix Chindungwe and Hillary Madzivanyika while Ngodzo, Pasca Manhanga or Rahman Kutsanzira are deployed on the offensive and creative side of midfield.
As usual, Mapuranga, Dumisani Ndlovu, Bruce Kangwa and Erick Mudzingwa are expected to keep under lock and key Dynamos’ strikers likely to be led by Roderick Mutuma who has five league goals since getting his clearance at the beginning of July.
Simba Sithole and Washington Phakamisa are other striking options for Dynamos with Murape, Ronald Chitiyo, Stephen Alimenda and Walter Mukanga set to be the heartbeat of DeMbare in midfield.
“Football is funny but there is no way that we can lose to Highlanders. This is not to say we underrate them as we have been working hard to make sure that we win this tournament. Pressure is on their side because they want to beat us but there is no way that we can let that happen as everyone doesn’t want to be the first ones to lose to Highlanders after so many years of dominance.
“The players are geared up for the game and come tomorrow we will beat them for the fourth time this season,” said Murape.
Meanwhile, organisers of the tournament have pegged the cheapest ticket at $1 and expect a full house since there are no PSL matches.
The match will also act as the Grand Draw event for the TM Pick ‘n Pay Big Brands Bargain Bonanza Promotion, a retail promotion that has been running at all TM and Pick ‘n Pay stores nationwide which started on July 17, and closed on Thursday.
The retail company will give away 17 Jeep Compasses with the grand prize being a Jeep Cherokee.
Final 18s
Dynamos: Artwell Mukandi, Blessing Moyo, Augustine Mbara, Themba Ndlovu, Ocean Mushure, Thomas Magorimbo, Murape Murape, Stephen Alimenda, Walter Mukanga, Ronald Chitiyo, Tafadzwa Rusike, Washington Phakamisa, Tatenda Mukuruva, Roderick Mutuma, Simba Sithole, Elisha Muroiwa, Tawanda Muparati, Sydney Linyama
Highlanders
Ariel Sibanda, Munyaradzi Diya, Erick Mudzingwa, Dumisani Ndlovu, Innocent Mapuranga, Bruce Kangwa, Webster Chingodza, Hillary Madzivanyika, Felix Chindungwe, Simon Munawa, Joel Ngodzo, Gabriel Nyoni, Rahman Kutsanzira, Pasca Manhanga, Charles Sibanda, Simba Sithole, Kudzanai Machazane, Njabulo Ncube