THREE wins in a row have been a rarity for Highlanders this season and should they be able to do so tomorrow against Bantu Rovers in the Bulawayo Derby, then they can shake off a huge monkey off their back.
WELLINGTON TONI
For two seasons in a row, they have played bridesmaids to Dynamos due to a high number of draws — and they already have six from just 14 games — and need to stamp their authority against a team that has never beaten them since they tasted Premier Soccer League football in 2009.
In that first year in 2009, three years after Highlanders had won their last league title, Bosso won 1-0 and drew the reverse fixture nil all. And in 2010, the scorelines remained just the same.
And talking of the 2006 title triumph, it is not forgotten in the Black and White Army that Bantu coach, Methembe Ndlovu, is black and white!
Born and bred at Highlanders, he returned to Emagumeni in 2006 and won the league title at his first attempt using the 4-1-4-1 formation that saw him net 30 points in 11 games before the rest of the teams could realise what was happening.
So there is some emotion in this match as well, not only the coach, but also former Bosso players like Zephaniah Ngodzo, Hebert Dick, Obadiah Tarumbwa, Lawson Nkomo and Bheki Ncube now featuring for the red and black-clad side.
From the derbies that have been played this season, Bantu has the best record, having beaten How Mine 3-1 and Chicken Inn, and now are looking at making it three from three.
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On the other hand, Highlanders and Chicken Inn played a 1-1 draw before the league leaders turned the tables on their nemesis How Mine last week, beating them 2-1.
Now this is the sort of form they need going into the match to consolidate their top spot.
They have 27 points and should they lose, and there is a winner in the Harare Derby tomorrow, then top spot is gone.
Speaking ahead of the derby, Ndlovu said: “It is a derby, but we want to treat it just like any other game because we do not want to put ourselves under unnecessary pressure. We are not in a good position on the log standings so we need to get a good result. We need to start collecting as many points as we can in the coming matches.
“We have won the other derbies (against Chicken Inn and How Mine), but we are not reading much into that. That is history and we are now focusing on the Highlanders match.”
Kaindu had this to say: “Derbies are never easy. Some of the Bantu Rovers players are former Highlanders players so this makes it difficult. They are also coached by a former Bosso player and coach.
“The better team of the day will win the match. We need to guard against complacency because when teams play against us, they will be a totally different team.”
