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Innocent Kurira, Sports Reporter

HIGHLANDERS Football Club coach Baltemar Brito is convinced their next assignment against Chicken Inn FC at Barbourfields Stadium tomorrow will be a tougher call than their previous one against FC Platinum simply because this is a local derby.

Bosso go into tomorrow’s encounter oozing with confidence following an impressive 2-1 victory over the defending champions.

Brito however, is bracing for a tough game against Chicken Inn.

“Our last game was good in terms of breaking one jinx. This can create a bit of anxiety, and a little bit of self-belief that doing so well against FC Platinum is not easy.

“My analysis from the last game is that these boys are capable of doing good things.

“They need to stay humble and we focus on the next game which in my opinion will be more difficult than FC Platinum because derbies are derbies. It’s a small preparation week but I know we will be ready and we will give it our all,” said Brito.

Bosso, who are likely to change their approach to the game against Chicken Inn after having settled for a more defensive approach against FC Platinum where they wanted to hurt the visitors on the counter. The system worked but the coach hinted on a different approach tomorrow.

“We did need to have more of the ball because FC Platinum and Chicken Inn are two different teams. They will come and try to hand us our first defeat. So the standard we had for the FC Platinum game, we need to increase it for the Chicken Inn game if we want to win.

“If we don’t press, if we don’t fight because we feel we are best because we beat FC Platinum we will not win the game.

“This game is too much about mentality. It’s a challenge for us as the coaches to prepare for the game and it’s a challenge to the players to show that they really want it,” said Brito.

The coach went on to say his side is not falling for the temptation of thinking about the Dynamos game which comes after their date with Chicken Inn.

“We are not thinking about Dynamos, we are only thinking of Chicken Inn. They make life difficult for Highlanders because it’s a derby. Right now the levels of confidence are high after beating FC Platinum.

“We have to stay humble because too much confidence will make you relax and make you think you are at the top. If you think like that you lose the next game,” said Brito.

Highlanders have a clean bill of health going into the encounter but are likely to miss the services of forward Calvin Chigonero and midfielder Elshamer Farasi who are yet to receive their playing licences. Bosso say they are working on the matter.  — @innocentskizoe