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Sikhumbuzo Moyo Senior Sports Reporter
HIGHLANDERS coach Bongani Mafu and his assistant Mandla Mpofu face a stern test when they lead their injury-hit side into its first Castle Lager Premier Soccer League match against unpredictable ZPC Kariba at Gwanzura Stadium in Harare this afternoon. The two sides drew in the reverse fixture at the same venue last season but ZPC Kariba assistant coach Godfrey Tamirepi does not want to read too much into that fixture and infact says Bosso have an upper hand having played more pre-season competitive games than them.

Tamirepi is in charge of the electricity men in the absence of head coach Saul Chaminuka who is with the Zimbabwe Under-23 side preparing for the African Championships qualifier against Cameroon tomorrow.

For the Bosso duo though, today’s game is the real reason why they penned contracts with the Bulawayo giants and pressure could be on them as individuals.

However, asked whether he personally felt any butterflies in the stomach ahead of his first official match as Bosso head coach, Mafu, a former school teacher, said he was stronger now than ever before.

“I’m too mature and old to feel nervous,” he said.

Bosso left Bulawayo yesterday morning without eight players, three due to national team commitments while the other five are on the injury list.

Defender Teenage Hadebe, midfielder Nqobizitha Masuku and gunman Thomas Chidewu are with the Young Warriors who are taking on Cameroon in an African Championships qualifier at Rufaro Stadium tomorrow. Veteran Simba Sithole, Ozias Zibande, King Nadolo and Godfrey “Baba Jukwa” Makaruse are all nursing football-related injuries while Knox Mutizwa is still admitted to Mpilo Central Hospital following horror burns he suffered at his home on Sunday evening.

Makaruse, though, is still subject to a late fitness test.

“I’ve to monitor Makaruse and see how he responds to treatment,” said Mafu.

On preparations and readiness for the match by his charges, Mafu said they were ready not only to play but to conquer.

“It’s always a sad thing to have players injured but we believe we prepared well for the game. The boys are pumped up and ready to face the second biggest team in Zimbabwe,” he said.

The electricity men finished second behind Dynamos on the league table last season and for that reason, Mafu believes they deserve respect.

“The fact that they (ZPC Kariba) finished second last season is proof enough that they’re an organised lot but on Saturday (today) it’s probably time for them to prove that last season’s mazy run wasn’t a fluke but a result of hard work,” said Mafu.

Tamirepi said their good run last season should not sway people into believing that it can be repeated this year.

“This is football, we know people might be expecting the same performance as last year and naturally that can put a lot of pressure on you but as a club, we’re going to play our normal game.

“Highlanders are an old team that has gone through many battles and for that I believe they’ve an edge over us considering that they had many pre-season matches compared to us,” said Tamirepi who will be without his goalkeeper Tendai Hove through injury.

Highlanders are likely to field a majority of the players that did duty against How Mine in the Zimbabwe National Army Charities semi-final match save for the national team trio and the injured Mutizwa.

Young Hadebe, who came in as a second half defence enforcer, has a ready replacement in skipper Felix Chindungwe while either the tried and trusted Mthulisi Maphosa, Tendai Ngulube and Edmore Muzanenhamo can be Hadebe’s replacement in the crucial midfield department.

With Chidewu out, young Thembelani Mthunzi might make his debut for Highlanders alongside Obadiah Tarumbwa or speed merchant Gabriel Nyoni who needs to steady himself in front of goal.

Bosso are the only Bulawayo side that begins its campaign away from home, with the other two teams — Chicken Inn and How Mine — all opening their accounts with home matches.

Chicken Inn, under Joey Antipas, entertain new boys Flame Lily at Luveve Stadium today while Luke Masomere, nicknamed Doctor of Football, leads How Mine against airmen Chapungu at the same venue tomorrow.

Brian Mbiriri, Moses Jackson, Thabani Goredema and Brian Juru are some key figures in the Chicken Inn line up.

Flame Lily are likely to be given a baptism of fire by the Gamecocks who had an excellent run during the second stanza of the season last year.

Fixtures

Today: FC Platinum vs Dongo Sawmills (Mandava Stadium), Dynamos vs Buffaloes (Rufaro Stadium), ZPC Kariba vs Highlanders (Gwanzura Stadium), Chicken Inn vs Flame Lily

Tomorrow: Triangle vs Hwange (Gibbo Stadium), How Mine vs Chapungu (Luveve Stadium), Whawha vs Caps Utd (Ascot Stadium).