The resurgent Bulawayo giants are also trying to make up for six barren years of a league, with many of their legion of followers still swimming in strong belief that this is their year. Past statistics say that the last time Bosso mauled a fellow Bulawayo team 7-1(Zimbabwe Saints in 1998), they went on to end a six-year league drought. They beat Quelaton with the same scoreline this year. In that year, Bosso were under the tutelage of one of their loyal former sons – Rahman Gumbo and this year, they are under Kelvin Kaindu, formerly a lethal striker with the country’s oldest existing club.
However, what the Bosso faithful should not forget is that the same statistics also indicate that the Bulawayo giants have had it tough against DeMbare anywhere in Zimbabwe, let alone Harare’s Rufaro Stadium, where the battle royal is set to take place. Even during their worst patches, the Glamour Boys have easily beaten Highlanders. In the years that the Black and White part of the country was swimming in a four-year success, Highlanders found it tough against Dynamos in Harare, losing 5-0 in a league game in 2001, under the tutelage of Eddie May. Only the team that had the lethal Ralph Matema and Charles Chilufya managed to silence the boys in blue their own turf in 2006, but at the National Sports Stadium. From a Bosso point of view, history is there to be made and this weekend will prove just that.
Dynamos supporters will themselves tell you that at the home lap, their side takes no prisoners. They will tell you that Bosso is their second wife after Caps United and they will tell you that the Bulawayo giants are going to Harare to donate all the three points. They will also tell you that when they are on a roll, not team can stop them and that Bosso only enjoyed a 24-match unbeaten streak because they only met the Harare giants very late and in Bulawayo.
Whatever the assertions and the outcome, pointers say whoever manages to notch this one will go on to win the league championship this season. The three points will not be enough for that, but the confidence that brings will.
A lot has happened since the season began and that could have a huge bearing on the weekend game. Bosso go into the match smarting from reports of a player unrest due to unpaid salaries and usually, this has seen them lose heavily to the same opponents in such meets. While Dynamos have been dangerous against the Bulawayo giants when coming from such situations, Bosso players have usually chosen to be lambs approaching the slaughter in reverse circumstances and this could spell doom to them and form several conspiracy theories in their supporters’ minds.
The Glamour Boys have problems of their own though. Some of their key players are awaiting release of varied bans linked to the “Asiagate”. A list released by ZIFA indicates that their skipper, Guthrie Zhokinyi faces a life ban, while youthful striker Tawanda Muparati, Milton Makopa, defensive link Ocean Mushure, Gorge Magariro, speedy forward, Martin Vengesai and new acquisition, Wonder Sithole are also said to be on the line.
Muparati, Mushure, Magariro and Makopa have been given starting roles while Vengesayi has always been substitute of 2011 Golden Boot winner Rodrick Mutuma. Sithole had also acquired confidence in the heart of coach Calisto Pasuwa in the few games he has played.
Highlanders will count on the young Ozias Zibande, Masimba Mambare and Peter Rio Moyo to do the job for them, but Denver Mukamba poses the greatest danger against them.
ZIFA has already released the list of those players who have been exonerated and only one Dembare son-David Kutyauripo, survived. This implies that the rest will get bans in the regions of one to ten years as recommended by the Justice Ibrahim committee. The list of the bans will be released in batches depending on durations of the bans, according to ZIFA president Curthbert Dube.
Post published in: Football