BY FORTUNE MBELE
HERENTALS will look to take advantage of Highlanders’ inconsistent start to the 2021-2022 Castle Lager Premier Soccer League campaign when the two sides clash at Barbourfields Stadium today.
After managing just one win and two draws in their opening six matches, 14th placed Bosso have been enduring one of their worst starts to the season in many years, leaving head coach Mandla Mpofu facing the axe.
In contrast Herentals, who go into this weekend’s fixtures in fifth position are enjoying a solid start to the season, defying preseason permutations which had put them amongst the favourites for relegation.
The Students have lost only once in six six outings and were four points behind pacesetters Chicken Inn going into the weekend games.
And their coach Kumbirai Mutiwekuziva yesterday said they would be cautious playing the under-pressure Bulawayo giants in front of their home crowd. He is, however, confident that their current form will play a huge part in today’s tie.
“We just need to play our cards well and minimise mistakes. It is good for us that Highlanders are under pressure to win at home. We are going to use that to our advantage. We want to use that to punish them, but it’s not going to be an easy game,” Mutiwekuziva said.
The Herentals’ coach, however, said he was aware the Bulawayo giants are a threat especially playing at BF.
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“We are just planning for this game like any other. We have got better momentum.
“We have not lost a game (since the league resumed this year) and we are building on that. But we are going to be cautious as we know Highlanders when they are playing at home. I am not going to read much into their current performance,” he said.
Highlanders coach Mpofu admitted during the pre-match press conference that his side needed to quickly turn around their fortunes after a poor start, which has seen them winning only one game in six outings this season.
“We need to start winning games and we must start on Sunday as time is not on our side,” Mpofu said ahead of the match.
Mpofu has a lot of work to get Bosso firing again as his goal shy side has not been scoring goals.
They have scored only two goals this season. The goals came from two set pieces by Nqobizitha Masuku when they beat struggling Whawha 2-0 for their only win. Bosso have not been able to find the back of the nets in the other five games.
