Chegutu Pirates buoyant ahead of Bosso clash
CHEGUTU PIRATES head coach Emmanuel Day Gutu is buoyant ahead of their Castle Lager Premier Soccer League match against unbeaten Bulawayo giants Highlanders at Barbourfields Stadium this afternoon.
It is a clash of teams known for wearing black and white kits, although Chegutu Pirates will have to use their second kit as the away team.
There are three other matches across the country, with Dynamos hosting bogey side Bulawayo Chiefs at Rufaro Stadium; Manica Diamonds entertaining Chicken Inn at Sakubva Stadium; and Hwange welcoming TelOne at the Colliery Stadium.
Dynamos are hosting their first Premier Soccer League match at the Mbare venue since December 11, 2019, the day they lost 1-3 against Harare City.
While Highlanders are unbeaten after four matches, Chegutu Pirates go into the match after registering their first win of a maiden Premiership campaign and lie 13th with four points going into Week 5 matches.
Gutu, who refuses to read much into the statistics, said the Premiership new boys have braced for what many anticipate to be a lopsided affair.
“It is going to be a massive game for the players and based on what they have been showing us in training, I am confident that we are bringing a positive result.
“For us as coaches, it is not a giant task at all because we have been there before, both me and assistant coach (Godfrey) Tamirepi and have beaten Highlanders before together in the dugout.
“The fact that we have beaten such a big club before means they are not invincible. We will do whatever we can to bring maximum points. There is nothing to fear at all.”
Gutu said his boys will not be intimidated by the Barbourfields crowd.
“We are used to crowds. Remember, we have a huge support base in Chegutu and since our Division One days, they (fans) would come in thousands to support us, so we had to teach the boys how to survive hostile crowds in away games,” he added.
Meanwhile, a decent crowd is expected at Rufaro Stadium, where DeMbare seek revenge after the back-to-back defeats they suffered against Bulawayo Chiefs last season, which contributed to their failure to win the league title.
Dynamos finally registered a win in this year’s campaign when they beat newcomers Bikita Minerals 1-0 at Sakubva Stadium on Easter Monday.
Coach Genesis Mangombe knows they face a tough challenge.
“We know we are facing a very stubborn team but we have prepared well for them. This is our first home game at Rufaro and it would be nice to start with a win.”
Most of the players who featured for Bulawayo Chiefs in those back-to-back wins last season have left Amakhosi Amahle.
Talented midfielder Mthokozisi Msebe, Malvin Mkolo, Billy Veremu and 2023 Soccer Star of the Year second runner-up Obriel Chirinda are some of the players who have left Bulawayo Chiefs.
In response, Amakhosi Amahle have roped in a number of unheralded players they discovered in remote areas of Lupane, Filabusi and Esigodini.
But their coach Thulani Sibanda fears the new boys might crumble under pres- sure at Rufaro Stadium.
“Yes, last season we beat Dynamos home and away but that was last season. This time, we do not have experienced players. The new boys might panic over the atmosphere at Rufaro,” he said.
Chicken Inn are unbeaten but coach Joey Antipas is predicting a tough game against the winless Manica Diamonds.
“Manica Diamonds are a team that is wounded, so we have to be focused and on point if we are entertaining any hopes of posting a positive result.
“They are a good team with some quality players who can hurt you if you are not up to scratch.
“We have been working hard to come up with the combinations. We have to fight and play hard and hope things work out in our favour.”
Fixtures
Dynamos v Bulawayo Chiefs (Rufaro), Manica Diamonds v Chicken Inn (Sakubva), Highlanders v Chegutu Pirates (Barbourfields), Hwange v TelOne (Colliery)