While the Soweto derby has got South Africa buzzing, across the Limpopo river, the battle of Zimbabwe between arch-rivals Dynamos and Highlanders takes centre stage.
The two traditional rivals are set for a showdown on Sunday at the National Sports Stadium.
Sadly, the excitement that usually comes with this fixture, Castle Lager Premier Soccer League’s most followed match was dampened as both teams failed to challenge FC Platinum’s stranglehold of the league.
Nevertheless their clash is sure to keep fans at the edge of their seats.
Ultimately losing the Battle of Zimbabwe has potential to get coaches relieved off their duties, with Tonderai Ndiraya already staring at the Dynamos exit door.
TIME FIRST…
This will be coach Baltermar Brito’s first time to face Dynamos while in-charge of Highlanders.
The Dynamos coach Ndiraya is taking the match against Highlanders as a cup final.
“It’s not a secret that this is always a tough task. It’s always like a cup final and we are used to taking it that way,” Ndiraya told FARPost.
“We are taking every remaining game seriously.
“The league winners [FC Platinum] might have been confirmed already but we still have a season to finish and we aim to do that on a high note.”
The clash though is fiery especially after ugly scenes marred the first installment of the rivarly at Barbourfields Stadium back in May.
Rogue fans from both sides went berserk and invaded the pitch, forcing the match to be abandoned.
FANS OUT OF CONTROL
Dynamos fans went as far as pulling down the goal nets after failing to stomach a Highlanders goal that broke the deadlock in injury time.
Highlanders’ were later awarded three points on a 3-0 scoreline while Dynamos was slapped with a hefty fine.
“We hope not to have such a scenario again. It’s a bad advert of the game. Fans must not take things the violent way.
“This is football, you win some and lose some. At the end, we are all footballers and football lovers,” Ndiraya added.
At this point, Dynamos are second on the standings but it is not good enough for their insatiable fans, who are thirsty for a title that last came in 2014 under Kalisto Pasuwa.
They are hoping to maintain their position until the season ends.
Highlanders hope to cement their position in the top four having also been a pale shadow of themselves.
They have 49 points on their tally and can only end the season with a maximum of 55 points if they win the remaining matches.
In contrast, Highlanders will end the season with one trophy in their cabinet, the Independence, while Dynamos are empty handed.
Meanwhile Highlanders will likely miss captain and goalkeeper Ariel Sibanda who is nursing an injury.
“Ariel has a groin injury which is very difficult to estimate how long a player will be out,” Highlanders assistant coach Joel Lupahla said as quoted by the Chronicle.
“With the type of play we want, it requires that the goalkeeper uses his feet but if Ariel can’t kick, it will be difficult for him.”
