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Ariel Sibanda

Ricky Zililo Senior Sports Reporter—
HIGHLANDERS FC skipper Ariel Sibanda says the Bulawayo giants will concentrate on winning their six remaining Premier League fixtures to keep their slim chances of landing the championship alive. Sibanda told Chronicle Sport that the team is gearing up to win the Chibuku Super Cup and the Mbada Diamonds as a morale booster to build momentum for next season.

“Our target is to win all our remaining games which I believe is possible. Even the guys have faith that we can collect maximum points from our remaining matches and what is required of us is to have utmost concentration in every encounter, starting with the Caps United game,” Sibanda said.

“In as far as the championship is concerned we haven’t thrown in the towel as yet and those that want to rule us out have to do so at their own peril. We spoke as guys and said look, we just have to win something which is on offer that is the Chibuku Super Cup, the Mbada Diamonds Cup as well as the league title. We’re determined to work harder as we try to win something for ourselves as well as restore confidence to our supporters.”

Highlanders’ second half of the season performance has been unconvincing, only managing to bag nine points out of a possible 27. Actually they have not played with the workmanlike approach of 2012 where they were an attacking team, tearing apart the opposition. Bosso were at the halfway mark at the top of the table with 30 points, enjoying a three-point lead over ZPC Kariba, Dynamos and Caps United who have since turned the tables on them.

The Bulawayo giants now trail Dynamos by seven points, ZPC Kariba by five points and are behind Caps United, who they face at the National Sports Stadium on Sunday, by three points.

Highlanders are also faced with the reality of missing out on defending their Mbada Diamonds Cup title should they end the season outside the top four as Hwange are breathing down their neck a point behind.

Sibanda, who has had a brilliant season with Bosso which saw him taking over the captaincy from Innocent Mapuranga because of his convincing performance, is confident that they can rediscover their first half of the season form.

“Obviously after the two morale-sapping defeats to Harare City and ZPC Kariba, the confidence on the guys hit rock bottom and as you know that issue of coach Kaindu’s uncertainty also had an impact on how the players exerted themselves at training last week. However, the guys have since managed to pick themselves up and from what I saw at Monday’s training session, I tell you everyone’s showing hunger to play. Everyone wants to return to winning ways again and the attitude is just awesome,” said Sibanda.

“It’s been a while since we received winning bonuses,” he jokingly said.
He is aware that Caps United will be on revenge mission having lost 0-4 at Barbourfields Stadium in the first half with Mark Mathe in charge.

Sunday’s match against Caps United invokes fond memories for Sibanda as he reclaimed his starting place which had been taken over by Munyaradzi Diya when they edged the Green Machine. Sibanda was given the nod ahead of Njabulo Nyoni after Diya was rested following his costly mistake against Chicken Inn in a midweek game which gifted the Gamecocks a draw.

“Like I said, the guys have shown great commitment to restore our pride after a bit of a slump in form. We know that we beat Caps United earlier on but that’s history now because they’ve been playing well and I’m sure they’ll want to come at us. They showed that they’re dangerous when we played them in the first leg. As Highlanders we’re also working on correcting the mistakes that we’ve made in recent encounters and it’ll be a different ball game in Harare.”

In their last battle with Caps United, Mark Mathe was in charge of Bosso and they put up a sublime performance getting their goals from Rahman Kutsanzira, Ozias Zibande, Kudakwashe Mahachi and Cleopas Dube. Then, Bosso who were without head coach Kelvin Kaindu who was away for a course, the boys fought for every ball and showed the desire to win.

It was arguably Highlanders’ best performance of the season.

Fixtures
Saturday: Chicken Inn v Black Rhinos (Hartsfield), Chiredzi v Bantu Rovers (Chishamiso), Harare City v FC Platinum (Rufaro)
Sunday: ZPC Kariba v Triangle United (Gwanzura), Buffaloes v Dynamos (Sakubva), Caps United v Highlanders (National Sports Stadium), Shabanie Mine v Chapungu (Maglas), Hwange v How Mine FC (Colliery)