HWANGE Football Club, seemingly the team to beat going into round four of the Castle Lager Premier Soccer League season, will not be reading much into history as they aim to dislodge log leaders Highlanders when the two sides clash at Barbourfields Stadium on Sunday.
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The coal miners are in second spot behind Highlanders due to an inferior goal difference as both teams have amassed seven points from their opening three matches.
The winner on Sunday would claim the top spot unless third-placed ZPC Kariba, who are also on seven points, harvest goals at Buffaloes on the same day.
Hwange handed Buffaloes a 5-1 drubbing in the season opener at the Colliery, staged a startling comeback from 2-0 down to beat FC Platinum 3-2 at Mandava the following week, before their 1-1 draw against Triangle last Sunday, but coach Nation Dube is not reading much into those results.
Dube’s side has not beaten Bosso in the league since Kelvin Kaindu took charge at the Bulawayo giants two seasons ago, but he is not fazed with that record. “History counts for nothing in this one. We take each game as it comes and we will obviously take a different approach this time around. Highlanders can be one of the biggest clubs, but we are in the same league and there are no small or big teams in the league,” Dube said.
The man who could cause problems for Highlanders is Rodwell Chinyengetere, who returned from an 18-month injury-induced absence and has scored three goals so far. Chinyengetere grabbed a brace against Buffaloes and scored the goal that earned his side a point against Triangle.
Another player to watch from the Hwange ranks is striker Aleck Marime, who joined the coalminers from relegated Tripple B, where he had scored 11 goals last season. The threat does not end there. Erick Chipeta, young Tafara Chese, Isaac Masame, Farai Vimisayi, veterans Gilbert Zulu and David Boriwondo have also been brilliant for the coalminers and Bosso should be on the look-out for these players.
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“We have slight knocks, but everybody is training,” Dube said.
Highlanders assistant coach Mark Mathe believes Bosso have started the season well and would want to keep the same momentum going forward.
“So far we have played well and we want to maintain the consistency. Everyone is fit except for Gabriel [Nyoni],” Mathe said.
Bosso played a goalless draw against Chapungu in their first game of the season before pummeling Shabanie Mine 4-1. Last Sunday, they beat Chiredzi FC 3-0. Knox Mutizwa, Ozias Zibande, Milton Ncube, Charles Sibanda, Kudakwashe Mahachi, Peter Moyo, Mthulisi Maphosa and Erick Mudzingwa have been influential for the team this far.
Mathe yesterday said head coach Kelvin Kaindu, who left the country on Tuesday for Zambia, would be back in time for the match.
