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Ricky Zililo Senior Sports Reporter
ETERNAL foes Highlanders and Dynamos’ clash on Sunday will headline the resumption of the Premier Soccer League games after a one-week break. The epic battle was put on hold after the league postponed its Week 17 programme to allow national team coach Callisto Pasuwa to select the best available players for the first-leg of the final Caf Under-23 Championships qualifier against South Africa on Sunday.

The match ended in a 1-1 stalemate, with skipper Walter Musona scoring the face saving equaliser from the penalty spot in the dying minutes of the match at Rufaro Stadium.

Bosso and DeMbare will square off at Barbourfields Stadium in a game that has become the talk of the town among Bulawayo soccer lovers.

Highlanders have failed to beat Dynamos in nine years and the question on most fans’ lips is, when will they break the jinx?

For Dynamos, extending their dominance over their fiercest domestic rivals and also ensuring they remain in title contention for a record fifth title in a row would most certainly drive their cause in the encounter.

Memories of last month’s 2-3 loss to DeMbare at Rufaro Stadium are still fresh in the minds of the Bosso faithful, following the controversy of a disallowed genuine goal by blundering match officials that could have earned them a share of the spoils.

Assistant referee Bongani Gadzikwa denied Highlanders a legitimate goal 10 minutes from time through a dubious offside call, despite replays showing no hint of illegality.

Had that goal stood, Bosso, who were dominant, could have at least gone home with a point or even a victory as they had laid siege on the Dynamos goal.

The referees committee suspended Gadzikwa, but history will record that Highlanders lost to Dynamos again.

Highlanders played some brilliant football in that encounter and appeared extremely comfortable on the ball compared to jittery home performances, even against unfancied opponents.

Sunday presents the fading Bulawayo giants an opportunity to break free of the DeMbare shackles.

Hopes of seeing Highlanders end nine winless years against the old enemy rest on coach Bongani Mafu’s hands.

The hard-to-please Bosso fans have been on Mafu’s case since the start of the season because of the team’s inconsistent performances, particularly at home.

Highlanders lie ninth on the table with a paltry 21 points from 16 outings, while Dynamos are fourth with 28 points, two behind leaders Chicken Inn.

A victory against Dynamos will turn Mafu into an overnight hero as Bosso fans take great satisfaction in beating DeMbare than anything else.

Highlanders last beat Dynamos in 2006; the year that the Bulawayo giants, then under the guidance of Methembe Ndlovu, won the Premiership title.

That season, Highlanders edged DeMbare 1-0 at Rufaro Stadium in the first encounter before pounding them 2-0 at Barbourfields Stadium.

Since then, Highlanders have not known the feeling of collecting maximum points against Dynamos in their last 17 league matches.

They have only forced seven draws and lost the rest.

Dynamos have already sent a loud statement of intent by re-signing former strikers Roderick Mutuma and Takesure Chinyama in the current transfer window.

Mutuma, scorer of Dynamos’ winning goal against Bosso at Barbourfields last season, rejoined the defending champions from Caps United where he had spent the opening half of the season.

Chinyama has been clubless and is likely to get a Premiership run against Bosso, a side he last scored against in DeMbare colours before moving to Orlando Pirates in 2012.

Dynamos have also signed forward Ralph Kawondera from Triangle United to bolster their strikeforce.

While Dynamos have been busy reinforcing their side, Highlanders have been quiet on the transfer market.

The Bulawayo giants failed to sign striker Ishmael Wadi from Bulawayo City and will have to rely on experienced forward Obidiah Tarumbwa.

Vice-captain Erick Mudzingwa is in contention for a return to the starting line-up after missing the last game through suspension.

It is not yet clear if striker Thomas Chideu, who has since signed for Ajax Cape Town, will be available for the big game.