HIGH-FLYING ZPC Kariba have said they are relaxed as they face off with Bulawayo giants Highlanders in a top-of-the-table Castle Lager Premier Soccer League clash at Gwanzura Stadium on Sunday.
TAWANDA TAFIRENYIKA SPORTS CORRESPONDENT
The match will be screened live on Supersport 9 at 1500hrs.
ZPC — in their debut season in the top-flight league after winning promotion last season — have had an explosive start to the 2014 campaign with a 100% unbeaten run in which they have won three and drawn the other three in six matches played so far.
In one of their victories, they stunned defending champions Dynamos 1-0.
In their last match at the weekend, they pummelled Triangle 5-1 to take their points tally to 12 — the same as Highlanders who demolished Harare giants Caps United 4-0, leaving coach Taurai Mangwiro admitting he had been outclassed.
ZPC have developed a knack of rising to the occasion against the perceived big teams.
After shocking Dynamos, they drew 1-1 against Caps United and their clash against FC Platinum ended in a 0-0 stalemate.
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Now, Saul Chaminuka and his men at ZPC host Highlanders hoping to stop them as the Bulawayo giants seek to lay their hands on the championship which has been stubbornly elusive since winning it way back in 2006 under Methembe Ndlovu.
The unassuming Chaminuka said their target was to avoid relegation at the end of the campaign despite the Kariba outfit enjoying a cool breeze as they are joint top with Highlanders.
“We are relaxed as we prepare for the match against Highlanders,” Chaminuka said.
“To us, it is like any other match with the only difference being that we are sharing top spot.
“Our target is to survive relegation and it is games like this that can enhance our chances of survival.
“Our only worry is that we have got injuries and suspensions, but we are going to field a team that can do the job against Highlanders.”
ZPC Kariba will be without Dexter Phiri, who is serving suspension after he was handed a red card in their match against Triangle at the weekend.
They will also be without midfielder Pride Tafirenyika, one of the goal scorers in their defeat of Triangle, as he is also serving a suspension after accumulating three yellow cards.
Chaminuka, however, said they had other injury worries which he was not at liberty to disclose as the affected players were likely to pass late fitness tests. ZPC Kariba will be banking on in-form winger Raphael Manuvire, who scored a double in the 5-1 rout of Triangle, with veteran Limited Chikafa, Obey Mwerahari and Tafirenyika weighing in with the other goals.
It was Triangle’s heaviest defeat at home since their promotion into the top-flight league.
Highlanders, with their confidence sky-high following the comprehensive win over Caps United in an embarrassingly one-sided match on Sunday, will be determined to maintain their grip on top of the league table.
Kuda Mahachi, Charles Sibanda, Welcome Ndiweni, Ozias Zibande and Erick Mudzingwa are the key players for the Bulawayo giants.
Fixtures Tomorrow: Harare City v Triangle (Rufaro SS9) Saturday: Caps United v Black Rhinos (National Sports Stadium SS9), Chicken Inn v How Mine (Luveve), Chiredzi FC v Chapungu (Chishamiso) Sunday: ZPC Kariba v Highlanders (Gwanzura SS9), Shabanie Mine v Dynamos (Maglas), Buffaloes v FC Platinum (Sakubva), Hwange v Bantu Rovers (Colliery)
