Highlanders ready for African soccer challenge

By Tichaona Sibanda
25 January 2007

Zimbabwe soccer champions Highlanders kick-off their African Champions League campaign with a home fixture against Mauritian side Pamplemousse, at Barbourfields stadium on Sunday.

Although the Bulawayo based soccer giants will no doubt see the visit of Pamplemousse as their most comfortable outing in the preliminary round of this year’s Champions League, club chairman Ernest Sibanda raised some concern over his team’s lack of match fitness.

Ever since Highlanders clinched the Premier Soccer League title in November last year, the team hasn’t played any competitive football apart from a few friendly matches in the last two weeks.

Little is known of their opponents from the Indian ocean island which is worrying the Highlanders camp, but Sibanda said they have managed to find some information from sources in that country about the way they play.

‘We are told they are a good side but we equally have a good side ourselves and our strongest point is we are playing them home first where we should utilise home advantage.’

The squad is also free of injuries after striker Ralph Matema returned to full training on Monday following weeks on the sidelines as a result of a knee injury. The team has been bolstered by the return of utility midfielder Richard Choruma from South Africa.

Sibanda said his charges will be out to make an impression on Sunday after failing to make it past the second round of the competition on four occasions in the last decade.

‘We are quite aware of what our fans are expecting from us this time around. Although that has exerted some pressure on the team the guys are all fired up for the challenge ahead of them.’