Bulawayo giants Highlanders will be looking to continue their dominance over rival CAPS United in recent years when the two teams clash in a potentially explosive encounter at Rufaro Stadium this afternoon.
Makepekepe have failed to beat Bosso in the league since a 3-1 triumph in Harare on August 18 2019, which translates to five years.
And in those five years the two teams have met five times with Highlanders winning three of the matches while the other matches ended in a draw.
The reverse fixture ended 2- 0 in favour of the Kelvin Kaindu-coached Highlanders and they will be looking for their first double over Makepekepe in recent memory.
CAPS United are the last team to complete a double in this fixture which they achieved in 2015.
But Kaindu is wary of CAPS United who have been impressive in recent weeks winning three of their last five encounters in the league.
“We are playing a team that is currently in top form. I think they have gone for about five games without recording a defeat,” Kaindu told journalists last Thursday.
“They have picked up their form and their seasoned and senior players are helping them in terms of influence on the field.
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“Playing Caps United at home is not going to be easy, but we just hope and anticipate that we have done slightly better playing away from home and we hope that we can carry that kind of performance.
“In terms of our preparations for the coming game over the weekend against Caps United, the one-week break because of the Fifa calendar gave us a slight advantage in terms of our players that were injured,” he said.
Despite a recent purple patch, CAPS United currently sits ninth on the log standings, with 34 points from 25 matches going into this weekend’s fixtures.
They are four points behind Bosso, who are currently fifth in the league race but will be encouraged by their opponent’s recent poor form who have one win in the last six matches.
A defeat for Bosso will be a major blow for Kaindu who still reckons his side is in the title race despite trailing log leaders Simba Bhora by 12 points with barely nine matches remaining before the season ends.
For the crucial encounter Highlanders will miss the services of Raphael Pitisi and Prince Ndlovu who have just resumed light training while Marvin Sibanda and Archford Faira are still out injured.
CAPS United coach Lloyd Chitembwe will be banking on in form striker William Manondo who is the league’s joint top scorer along with Yadah FC’s Khama Billiat and Tymon Machope who plays for Simba Bhora, on 10 goals.
Today’s Fixtures
Bikita Minerals v Kariba (15:00)
Chicken Inn v Yadah (15:00)
Chegutu Pirates v Bulawayo Chiefs (15:00)
TelOne v Simba Bhora (15:00)
