Highlanders are wary of struggling Kiglon Bird as they meet in the last match of the first half of the season in a Castle Lager Premier Soccer League tie at Rufaro Stadium on Wednesday afternoon.
Bosso gaffer Mkhuphali “Mr Cooper” Masuku on Tuesday said he would be cautious of Kiglon as they have claimed the scalps of big clubs this year.
“We respect Kiglon, they play very well and they have won against big teams in the season,” Masuku said.
Relegation-threatened Kiglon beat Dynamos 1-0 in Harare at the beginning of the season in March, but they have since parted ways with two of their coaches Partridge Muskwe and Maxwell Takaendesa Jongwe.
However, Masuku is brimming with confidence despite the weekend loss to Absa Premiership outfit Bloemfontein Celtic in the maiden Ellis Park World of Sport Winter Cup in Johannesburg on Saturday.
“We respect them (Kiglon), but if we play the way we played in South Africa, I do not see us not collecting the three points in Harare,” Masuku said.
Bosso lost 3-0 in a penalty shootout to Siwelele after a 3-3 draw in regulation time at Ellis Park Stadium.
Kiglon did not lose a match to Bosso last season, collecting four points from the Bulawayo football giants after beating them 1-0 in Harare in August and forcing a 1-1 draw in December at Barbourfields Stadium.
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Masuku said he was not going to dwell on the past saying Bosso is playing extremely well this season.
“This is a new season. We have been playing well this year and broken several jinxes and we are going to Harare to collect three points. We want to end the first half of the season in a respectable position so that it gives us a good indication as to how to proceed in the second half,” Mr Cooper said.
Bosso welcome the return of strikers Vincent Nzombe and Graham Ncube.
Nzombe sustained a head injury when he collided with Caps United goalkeeper Edmore “Zikeeper” Sibanda during the BancABC Sup8r Cup quarter-final clash at Baghdad Stadium, while Ncube had also been out of action for the better part of the first half of the season due to injury.
In their last league match Highlanders lost 1-0 to Hwange after puttin on a dismal show in front of their home crowd at Emagumeni.
Highlanders, who maintain they won’t be buying any players due to a financial crisis, also have in their ranks striker Njabulo “Tshiki” Ncube, midfielders Eric Mudzingwa, Arnold “Majaivana” Tshuma, Simon Munawa and Louis Matawu.
Bosso backs, young Lawson Nkomo and veteran Gift “Thebe” Lunga, who have a propensity to spearhead Highlanders’ onslaughts, will be in the game.
Captain Gilbert Banda, who was on trials with Absa Premiership side Platinum Stars, and is going back on Friday, will also be available for the Kiglon tie.
Kiglon caretaker coach Pearson Matipedza said they had just assembled a new team, but hopes to produce positive results.
“Whether we play home or away, we are not under any pressure. We are relaxed and we will try our best to get a positive result. We have a new Kiglon side that is taking on Highlanders,” Matipedza said.
Kiglon strikers Last Chibwiro and Brighton Pamirwa, as well as midfielders Bernard Bvumbwe and Kenny Mageja, will be hoping to carry the day for the Harare side.
Fixtures
Wednesday: Kiglon v Highlanders (Rufaro)
Thursday: Gunners v Caps United (Lafarge)
Saturday: Zimbabwe Saints v Hwange (Barbourfields), FC Platinum v Masvingo United (Mandava), Motor Action v Monomotapa (Motor Action Sports Club), Blue Ribbon v Shabanie Mine (Rufaro), Chicken Inn v Dynamos (Luveve), Black Mambas v Shooting Stars (Morris Depot)
Sunday: Highlanders v Kiglon (Barbourfields), Caps United v Gunners (Rufaro)
