Clive Thabo Dube
BULAWAYO-
BARBOUR FIELDS Stadium plays host to seventh positioned Premier Soccer League (PSL) outfit on Sunday, as Highlanders FC take on tricky and cunning Triangle United FC.
Both teams were victorious in their fixtures of the season’s resumption with Bosso outwitting CAPS United. The visitors Triangle FC who have recorded four consecutive draws, finally claimed a home victory after overwhelming Cranborne Bullets 2-1.
Meetings between the two sides have in the past been largely dominated by Highlanders. However, in fairness the Lowveld based side has been producing scintillating and artful performance so far, and are stubborn as they come.
With that in mind, Baltimore Brito is wary of Sugar Sugar Boys who have stroke fear in the face of the Bulawayo giants. The visitors who pose to become too sweet for Tshilamoya to devour, are expected to give uMantengwane a run for their money.
“We have no information about them (Triangle), l just remember the color of their shirt from the last season. If they changed the jersey color, we do not know what they will dress.” Said Brito in his humorous tone.
“We are doing our job, we need to focus on us to prepare the boys for a lot of circumstances that can happen during the game. It is a game we are bit wary of.” He added.
The hosts will be looking to replicate their obstinate league form and stretch their unbeaten run. With the summit in their sights, Bosso’s Portuguese coach has implored the club’s ecstatic fans to come up in their numbers, clad in black and white for Amahlolanyama to fortify Emagumeni.
Highlanders’ home games have received rapturous welcome from Bulawayo football enthusiasts, with most of the games being sold out. There have been incredible scenes on the stands with hundreds of fans swarming the grand Soweto Stand.
Inevitably Barbour fields Stadium has turned to be an impenetrable fortress. Making it impossible for away teams to leave as victors.
“We will do our best, we will need the support of our fans to be the 12th player…Everyone is confident and of course the players catch these feelings, and are also confident.
“This is the most difficult game that we will face. But still we are here…its really an important game and we want to try to make the synergy between the team and them (fans) and create a fortress here at home.” Brito reiterated.
Meanwhile, the Bulawayo based outfit is still in search of wingers and strikers to fix the team’s teething problem upfront.
“We already gave our targets to the board, they are working on it because a club as big as Highlanders cannot have two or three players in two or three positions. We need to have competition to help these boys grow and develop.”
Triangle United FC is not in the conversation of the ‘big dogs’ nor ‘surprise package’. The team which just drifted to a win from string of draws are on course to beat a high ranked opponent and stamp their mark at Barbour fields Stadium. A rare feat for small teams in the topflight league.
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