IT might not be the title decider as many in the football circles would want to describe it, but there is no doubt that the match at Barbourfields pitting Dynamos and Highlanders this Sunday will be the biggest of the season so far.
REPORT BY HENRY MHARA
If log leaders Highlanders win and go five points clear of their opponent on the day, it’s hard to see them being caught in the last four games.
A Dynamos win, on the other hand, would give them strong momentum going into the run-in.
A draw would only profit third-placed Harare City who would move into second position on goal difference.
But the City Fathers will have to win their encounter against an unpredictable Buffaloes side to achieve that.
With five games still to play, the Barbourfields battle is one of the two genuinely tough matches left for the log leaders alongside their early November trip to the capital to face Harare City.
In addition to these two fixtures, Highlanders have two more home games against Triangle and Shabanie Mine, and a manageable trip to Motor Action remaining. After a last-day heartbreak last season, Bosso seem to be hungrier this time around.
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Going to Rimuka Stadium and managing to score three goals against a Black Rhinos side who until Sunday, had not conceded a single goal there this season, was undoubtedly the biggest statement of intent by Kelvin Kaindu and his men.
If they can show the same character and fighting spirit in their remaining matches, especially the one against Dynamos, then they would be home and dry. Certainly, more twists and turns could still abound in the title race, but if Bosso are still on top after this weekend, and then manage to beat Harare City, it may well be game over.
As for Dynamos, they know exactly what they need to do to retain the title.
They have been in this situation in the previous two seasons, and as they have shown on both occasions, they are very capable of handling the pressure that comes with leading the race in the final four or so games.
They have been poor travellers this season and many would be justified to predict them to falter when they travel to Triangle and Chicken Inn, but if there is a club that has shown great capability of dealing with such pressure, it is Dynamos.
No doubt the charismatic Gishon Ntini may be the man to decide the title race with Triangle having to play both Dynamos and Highlanders in successive weeks, but if Kalisto Pasuwa and his men can get maximum points at BF, they are not expected to leave behind points in the following week at places like Triangle.
History shows that when cornered, Dynamos always react. They showed it this past weekend when after three weeks of turmoil in their camp following a desolate spell against Hwange, Monomotapa and FC Platinum in which they had picked just a point, they reacted in emphatic fashion to dismantle Tripple B 4-0 at Rufaro Stadium.
With all due respect to Tripple B, the win was generally expected for Dynamos although the scoreline was rather unbelievable considering the home side’s form going into the match.
After shining at How Mine over the weekend, Harare City are truly the dark horses in this race and with the same number of points as Dynamos, the Sunshine Boys have a very good chance of sneaking in and surprise both Bosso and DeMbare.
Coach Bigboy Mawiwi will hope Highlanders and Dynamos draw this weekend, in which case a win at home against Buffaloes will bring them level on points with Bosso.
Drop points here, though, and the City Fathers will kiss the title goodbye on both cheeks.
The three leading teams won their last league matches convincingly over the weekend, but form will definitely count for nothing especially in the match at Barbourfields this weekend. This will be a battle of character and wits, and the team that will show these two features will certainly prevail.
