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Fireworks at NSS . . . as Caps host Bosso

Sport
IT’S all systems go this afternoon as Caps United and Highlanders do battle at the National Sports Stadium in a Castle Lager PSL.

IT’S all systems go this afternoon as Caps United and Highlanders do battle at the National Sports Stadium in a Castle Lager Premier Soccer League — the highlight of the weekend.

HENRY MHARA

The match will be broadcast live on SuperSport 9.

Interestingly, Caps coach Taurai Mangwiro’s first match as Caps United coach was a home game against Highlanders at Rufaro Stadium last year.

His debut at the helm of the Green Machine ended in misery after his side were dismantled by a mean Bosso machine led by the incredible Peter “Rio” Moyo. Masimba Mambare scored an unanswered double for Highlanders in that match.

The reverse fixture had ended with Bosso collecting maximum points, but that was under manager Sean Connor who made way for Mangwiro. This afternoon, Mangwiro will be looking for a change of fortunes against Highlanders who went down to city rivals Chicken Inn on Wednesday for their third defeat of the season. Caps, on the other hand, made light work of Hwange, beating them 2-0 at the National Sports Stadium.

“The memories of that match are still vivid to me not because they are good, but because it was my first match in charge at Caps United. I had just inherited a team which was low on confidence and we couldn’t match Highlanders who were on a roll at the time,” recalled Mangwiro.

“It’s a different situation this time around. We won our last match and the morale is obviously high, but we have been warning our guys that they shouldn’t get carried away because tomorrow (today)’s match is a different ball game altogether. We expect them to come fighting after their loss to Chicken Inn, but we have prepared well for them,” added Mangwiro.

The two teams are separated by six points as the season reaches halftime, with table toppers Highlanders at 29 while Caps are five rungs below.

“They are the pacesetters and we need to give them due respect, but that is as far as it goes.”

Former Highlanders winger Rahman Kutsanzira, who was a major doubt after coming off the Hwange match with dehydration, has been certified fit and will lead the attack against his old friends. As for Highlanders, they are hoping that their good away form will continue.

The Kelvin Kaindu-coached side has dropped just four points on the road, and the three defeats they have recorded so far were at home. Moyo has not hit his usual form as yet, but his talents are unquestionable while Mambare remains a threat to Caps United.

Highlanders have responded well to home losses in the past.

After losing 1-0 to Motor Action, they managed a 1-1 draw against Dynamos the following Sunday in Harare-a game they should easily have won had they played to the whistle.

They then lost the first Bulawayo Derby 2-1 to How Mine on a Sunday, but responded with a 5-2 midweek thumping of Monomotapa in Harare-statistics that Caps should really be wary of this afternoon.

Should they fail to close down Mthulisi Maphosa in midfield or give him too much attention, Caps could find themselves chasing the ball.  Robust striker Njabulo Ncube has suddenly gone quiet while for Caps Dominic Chungwa seems to be struggling.

Will they reinvent themselves this afternoon?  But whatever the case this afternoon, it’s certainly pay day for Caps United!