HIGHLANDERS coach Bongani Mafu yesterday said his players should possess the right mental aptitude to break the jinx that has seen them go for nine years without beating defending champions Dynamos in the Castle Lager Premier Soccer League.
BY THANDIWE MOYO
Dynamos and Highlanders clash at Rufaro Stadium on Sunday.
The match will be beamed live on SuperSport 9.
“I will be asked if I’m going to break a decade long jinx. Not really, but we are going to play a game that we want to win,” Mafu said during a Press conference.
“We want to win against the reigning champions. It is something that makes us proud to do, but we are carrying a burden of 10 years. The club is carrying a burden of 10 years, but I want my players to go and carry a burden of playing football in a very free spirit where they can express their capabilities. I cannot allow those boys to carry the burden of 10 years when they play in there, but they carry the baton stick of being a Highlanders player,” he added.
Mafu said the only thing that he would demand from the players was to show in their demeanour that they were willing to “break a leg” for Highlanders.
He said they should not at any time underestimate Dynamos’ desire to continue their winning streak against Highlanders. “We need to look at ourselves. We need to introspect. We need to have the right metal aptitude to go and change that,” Mafu said.
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He said he had not been given an ultimatum ahead of the Dynamos match. This follows reports that his job could be on the line if he loses the match against Dynamos as this will likely push Bosso further down the standings.
Highlanders are currently placed eighth on the log with 19 points, while Dynamos are third with 23.
“I haven’t been given that ultimatum. I have been given the ultimatum to make Bosso play well. I want to beat Dynamos. If we don’t win, I will be coming home and having supper,” he said.
“I understand the challenge that comes with playing against Dynamos. It’s not an easy game. They will come at you with all their hearts. You need to have your heart and soul willing to go and play that game.”
The match will likely see the return of Mthulisi Maphosa who has been out injured, but Mafu said they were still assessing his recovery.
