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Ricky Zililo Senior Sports Reporter
HIGHLANDERS have an opportunity to end the first third of the season at the top of the Castle Lager Premier Soccer League table in tomorrow’s rescheduled game against Border Strikers at Barbourfields Stadium. Bosso are presently third on the table with 20 points, one behind leaders Caps United, who are tied on 21 points with ZPC Kariba and have played a game more.

Following their 2-0 win over How Mine on Sunday, Highlanders returned to training yesterday to prepare for the clash against the league’s basement team that went down 1-2 to Chapungu in their first game at their newly renovated home ground Dulivhadzimu Stadium in Beitbridge.

Bosso skipper Felix Chindungwe ruled out complacency on their part, saying they respected and were actually wary of the PSL debutants, who will be seeking their second Premiership victory.

“Border Strikers are more dangerous than How Mine because they’ve nothing to lose. What’s important to us is to stick to the coach’s game plan and maintain consistency. Of course, we want to win and move to the top, but before thinking of being on top, we’ve to do the job at hand,” said Chindungwe.

For Highlanders to strongly claim the title favourites’ tag, they have to be consistent performers. On Sunday, Bosso displayed a disciplined performance, with the Chindungwe-marshalled defence watertight and were rarely troubled by the gold miners’ forwards.

Highlanders also appear to have found a proper anchorman to protect the backline in the form of Erick Mudzingwa, who has settled into that role with ease. This has freed Simon Munawa to play as an all out offensive midfielder. Bosso’s quick breaks also seemed to work on Sunday, as the two goals came following swift counter attacks aided by How Mine’s poor tracking.

Munawa gave Highlanders the lead in the 18th minute when he brilliantly chipped the ball over advancing goalkeeper Munyaradzi Diya after being fed by striker Prince Dube.

Bruce Kangwa got Bosso’s second goal just after the half-hour mark by firing a right footer home after benefiting from Munawa’s delicious pass. “Poor tracking cost us. We didn’t track well and we were punished,” said How Mine captain Tapiwa Khumbuyani.

While Highlanders eased to victory, leaders Caps United also kept their title hopes alive by dispatching Mutare City Rovers 2-0 at Sakubva Stadium. The Green Machine had gone into the match third on the table, trailing ZPC Kariba, who beat Tsholotsho 0-1 a day earlier, knowing that nothing other than a victory would take them to the top.

Caps United should be commended for putting aside the midweek players’ strike over allowances to beat Rovers. FC Platinum were inactive as their opponents Chicken Inn had five players with the national team that arrived from the Cosafa Castle Cup in Namibia on Friday.

FC Platinum are fourth on the table tied on 20 points with Highlanders, but they have an inferior goal difference. On present form, the championship race is likely to be a four-team affair involving Caps United, ZPC Kariba, Highlanders and FC Platinum. Elsewhere, Bulawayo City failed to turn superior ball possession into goals and suffered a 0-2 home loss to Harare City.

Hwange staged an incredible away fight to bag maximum points after seeing off Triangle United 1-0 at Gibbo Stadium in the Lowveld. Former champions Dynamos won their first home match of the season 2-0 over Ngezi Platinum at Rufaro Stadium. Before Sunday’s game, Dynamos had played four times at Rufaro, with their best result being a 0-0 draw in Week Two against Triangle United.

DeMbare lost three times at home by identical 0-1 score lines to Caps United and FC Platinum, before being embarrassed 0-2 by chief rivals Highlanders.

Fixtures
Tomorrow: Highlanders v Border Strikers (Barbourfields)