Sikhumbuzo Moyo, Senior Sports Reporter
Bulawayo City and Tsholotsho clash at Barbourfields Stadium this afternoon both determined to register a win.
A lot will be expected from the two gaffers, Philani Ncube for Bulawayo City and Tshiolotsho’s Lizwe Sweswe after their sides failed to collect maximum points in the season openers last week.
City came from behind to draw 2-2 with How Mine while Tsholotsho lost 1-2 to FC Platinum at Mandava Stadium. A loss for Bulawayo City might start sending panic buttons as a lot is expected from them while Tsholotsho would certainly not want to drop another set of three point.
Teams that start badly normally struggle throughout the season as their confidence levels continue to wane with each defeat. It will be worse for Tsholotsho who survived relegation by a whisker last season.
The two sides have already met once this year in the Bulawayo Football Festival and Bulawayo City progressed 3-1 on penalties but this is a different ball game altogether.
Bulawayo City who took long to get off the blocks against How Mine last Friday, might take the same approach this afternoon, raising the stakes in the game ending in another stalemate.
At White City Stadium, Sunday Chidzambwa returns to Bulawayo after his 1-0 win over Highlanders last season and is obviously eager to maintain that record. He however faces a game reader in Kelvin Kaindu, whose boys looked sharp during Thursday afternoon training session.
Young Praise Tonha, Tapiwa Khumbuyani, Quadr Amini and Herritein Masuku were all in excellent form on the day and if they maintain that today, ZPC Kariba might return empty ended.
Another danger for the visitors is if they concede free kicks anywhere near the box, as the gold miners have a deadly free kick taker in Amini. He gave goalkeeper Munyaradzi Diya terrible moments after the Thursday training session as coach Kaindu took them through set pieces grills.
Fixtures
Today: Bulawayo City v Tsholotsho (Barbourfields Stadium), How Mine v ZPC Kariba (White City Stadium), Chapungu v Hwange (Ascot Stadium), Dynamos v Triangle (Rufaro Stadium)
Sunday: Highlanders v FC Platinum( Barbourfields Stadium), Border Strikers v Chicken Inn (Maglas Stadium), Ngezi Platinum v Caps United (Baobab Stadium)