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Hwange take on Bosso

Sport
HWANGE head coach Nation Dube faces a daunting task when his charges entertain league pacesetters Highlanders at the Colliery tomorrow.

HWANGE head coach Nation Dube faces a daunting task when his charges entertain league pacesetters Highlanders in what is expected to be a mouth-watering Castle Lager Premiership football tie at the Colliery tomorrow.

Report by Fortune Mbele

Hwange have been on cloud nine in the last three outings after a going through a bad patch and tomorrow’s encounter could be one of their toughest matches in the first half of the season playing Bosso, a team they have beaten only twice in the league since 2010.

Confidence on Dube appeared to have been running out, but the Chipangano coach has stringed a new rhythm after the 3-1 defeat of Tripple B and the 1-0 win over Premiership title hopefuls FC Platinum at Mandava last Wednesday, courtesy of a header by veteran defender David Boriwondo in the first half.

Dube’s worry though is Boriwondo who picked up a knock in last Sunday’s goalless draw against Monomotapa at the Colliery and the youthful Tafara Chese who also sustained a knee injury in that game and has been ruled out of Sunday’s tie.

Midfielder Farai Vimisayi is attending a family bereavement and is also out of action tomorrow, but Dube says they are not giving any special attention to Bosso.

“It is just like any other game. We are not going to give it any special treatment. I will not make a comment on the last games that we have played because every game is new game and we want to collect maximum points.

“The guys at the turnstiles are the people that are supposed to be worried about the number of people coming watch the game. On the field of play we are not worried; we are not under any pressure whatsoever and we are treating this game like any other match,” Dube said.

Bosso leads the pack with 26 points from 12 matches after scrapping a 2-1 win against Black Mambas at Barbourfields Stadium on Sunday after a midweek 5-2 walloping of Monomotapa in Harare.

After the Mambas’ anxious encounter Bosso gaffer Kelvin Kaindu said the midweek Monomotapa tie had drained his charges and it was the coming in of Heritani Masuku and ever-green Erick Mudzingwa for Simon Munawa and Hillary Madzivanyika re-energised the Bulawayo giants to score the two important goals in the second half.

Highlanders also welcome back bustling striker Njabulo “Tshiki” Ncube, who was not part of the squad on Sunday due to suspension after picking up three yellow cards. Peter “Rio” Moyo also had a bad day in office and had to be replaced by Beaven Chikaka last Sunday.

With Munawa returning to the right-back where he has settled, the return of attacking midfielder Masimba Mambare, who had travelled with the Warriors to Malawi last weekend and Milton Ncube, Bosso’s well-oiled machine could be back in full motion tomorrow with speed merchant left-back Bruce Kangwa, attacking from the left.

Dumisani “Fazo” Ndlovu has commanded a regular place in defence with skipper Innocent Mapuranga in central defence becoming a darling of the multitude of the Bulawayo giants’ supporters.

Also returning from the Warriors camp is goalkeeper Munyaradzi Diya, providing further competition for Arial Sibanda for the number one position.