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Callisto Pasuwa

Ricky Zililo Senior Sports Reporter
IT’S two days before the “Battle of the Titans” at the National Sports Stadium in Harare where Dynamos squares off with Highlanders in a premiership match whose result may have a bearing on how the title fight progresses.
If you are a local football fan, forget the drama at the Fifa World Cup in Brazil where holders Spain, Australia and Cameroon were the first teams to be booted out of the global soccer showpiece before the end of group matches as nothing beats the Dynamos-Highlanders duels.

Whenever the two teams meet, it’s always a big and exciting match that attracts a full house.
Highlanders are yet to beat Dynamos in seven years and the question is will they be able to break the jinx?

A close look at both teams’ form guide shows that DeMbare have picked up form as they have collected 10 points out of a possible 15 in their last five matches, winning three, drawing once and losing last weekend to Hwange. On the other hand, Bosso picked nine points during the same period from two wins and three draws.
Highlanders travel to Harare hoping to hand Dynamos their third home defeat after ZPC Kariba and Buffaloes.

Highlanders’ leading goal scorer with five goals Charles Sibanda, believes that they have a strong squad capable of collecting maximum points.
He said their fine form away from home was key to their success.

“We always prepare to win and I am not reading much into the goals that I have scored because that is history. The success of Highlanders lies in teamwork and the guys are working hard to be in the team and that unity of purpose, that desire to get  positive results is what drives us. We work for each other and try to encourage one another so that we soldier on.

“To us this is just like any other game that we have played. The coach has spoken about the need to remain focused and improve on our last performance which was below par at Triangle considering that we have played better on the road. We are always dangerous on the road and that is what our opponents should fear,” said Sibanda.

The former Soccer Star of the Year who seems to be settling well at Bosso might be playing with Milton Ncube for the last time as the latter is heading for Ajax Cape Town club next week.

“We received a letter from Ajax Cape Town stating that they want Milton on June 19 but we wrote to them advising that he has been part of our plans for the week and made a request to release him after Sunday’s game. Amini Soma-Phiri (Ncube’s handler) passed through the office today and said the player is now wanted in Cape Town by June 29,” said Bosso chief executive officer Ndumiso Gumede.

The availability of Ncube should be a relief to Highlanders coach Kelvin Kaindu who is spoilt for choice when it comes to selecting strikers.
Ncube, Sibanda, Ozias Zibande, Cleopas Dube and Gabriel Nyoni are the five Bosso strikers fighting for places in the team that leaves for Harare tomorrow.

Competition for starting places is stiff with captain Innocent Mapuranga, Felix Chindungwe and Dumisani Ndlovu fighting for places at central defence while Bruce Kangwa and Khumbulani Banda are battling for leftback start.

Simon Munawa is likely to be deployed on the right side of defence with Erick Mudzingwa given the anchorman’s role.
Highlanders are still monitoring the progress of Kudakwashe Mahachi and Rahman Kutsanzira who have been doing light training due to knocks.

Dynamos have four injured players that include Masimba Mambare.
DeMbare will however not be pushovers with their pre-season signings Walter Mukanga, Ronald Chitiyo, Tafadzwa Rusike and Themba Ndlovu likely to play against Bosso.

The game changer for Dynamos that Highlanders have to look out for is Cliff Sekete as well as former Bosso player Stephen Alimenda.
Pasuwa will also bank on strikers Simba Sithole, Washington Phakamisa and Anesu Gondo.

Gondo is Dynamos’ top goal scorer with just two goals.