Zimbabwe Premiership Showtime

HARARE giants Dynamos know that they can't afford to drop any more points, after the calamity in Masvingo on Sunday, and if there is a team that will derive great joy in destroying their championship dreams, then it has to be Highlanders. The two giants meet at Rufaro tomorrow in a Castle Lager Premiership tie.

David Kutyauripo is likely to miss tomorrow's tie as he battles against the knee injury he suffered during their first Harare Derby against CAPS United at National Sports Stadium back in June. Assistant coach Tonderai Ndiraya yesterday said the technical team had resolved to give the defender more time to recover fully from the knock, which kept him out for several weeks, before his return last month.
"It's that old injury. He has been complaining of pain on his knee so we just decided to give him a rest to allow him to recuperate," said Ndiraya. "Otherwise I don't think it's something very serious. He just needs that rest." Kutyauripo and goalkeeper Maxwell Nyamupangedengu are the only two changes made from the team that lost 1-0 in Masvingo last week, as DeMbare welcomes back Washington Arubi and striker Cuthbert Malajila into the fold.

The duo missed the last game because of national team commitments. DeMbare are currently second in the championship race, four points behind log leaders FC Platinum, but they are still fancying their chances in the race, with five games remaining. But their task against Highlanders does not seem that easy as the visitors, despite being out of the reckoning for honours, have a lot to play for to make up for their recent disappointments.

Highlanders' form has taken a dip recently and the team is under pressure from the supporters to start winning, after dropping 10 points in their last five games, and sliding down the table into sixth place."We are not looking at how they have been playing their games because we know that it is always a big challenge playing Highlanders," said Ndiraya.

"They are a big team and they always raise their game at the big stage. "It's going to be exciting because we are also coming from a loss and we now need to collect three points in each and every game to stay in contention for the title. "The players are in good spirits and appear to have recovered from the disappointment we suffered in the last game. "We talked about it and we hope to bounce back.

"We just didn't click in Masvingo and even if we played that game for three days we were not going to win because it was just not our day."

Statistics aside, Bosso have the resources and capacity to turn on the fire and still leave Rufaro with the loot.

Highlanders' skipper Gilbert Banda said they were trying very hard to put behind them the disappointment that has characterised their campaign of late. "We might have been playing badly of late but we want three points from this match. It's a new game and the chances are 50-50," he said.

Coach Mkupali Masuku will be hoping for better precision in front of goal from his forwards Vincent Nzombe and Graham Ncube. Ncube, who is the club's joint leading scorer with Njabulo Ncube on five goals, missed from the spot last week in a 1-1 home draw against Shooting Stars as pressure appears to be taking its toll on the Highlanders players. Banda, however, said they were hoping for a comeback against Dynamos.

The midfield quartet of Rahman Kutsanzira, Eric Mudzingwa, Louis Matawu and Simon Munawa can be a handful on any given day. Give them a big stage and they are likely to show their true colours. But whether they can match Denver Mukamba, Archford Gutu and Tawanda Muparati is another story altogether.

Mukamba has been brilliant, especially on the flat surface of Rufaro, and could be a handful for the Bosso defence.

Gutu was a big talking point in Masvingo after the surprise decision by the coaches to pull him out, early in the second half, paralysed the team's midfield. The Zimbabwe international had played well in the first half and was a surprise choice for the substitution given that veteran Murape Murape appeared to be struggling.

Dynamos, who had responded well since falling behind, lost their way and were indebted to a super save from goalkeeper Phillip Nhete to prevent Masvingo from doubling their lead. This is a game the Glamour Boys simply can't afford to lose because, should that happen, then it will be all over for them in this championship race.                                                                                                           

Fixtures

Today

Blue Ribbon v Zimbabwe Saints (Rufaro), Black Mambas v CAPS United (Morris Depot), Shooting Stars v Chicken Inn (Gwanzura), Gunner v FC Platinum (Lafarge)

Tomorrow

Dynamos v Highlanders (Rufaro), Shabanie Mine v Motor Action (Maglas), Kiglon v Masvingo (Gwanzura).
Culled from herald