Highlanders, Caps United collide in blockbuster clash
Auther Chimbgwa
Familiar rivals Highlanders and Caps United clash at Barbourfields on Sunday in a potentially explosive Match Day 6 fixture with the ailing football powerhouses keen to crank up a poor start to their 2025 premiership campaign and keep up with the pacesetters.
The so-christened Battle of the Cities is one of domestic football’s most followed fixtures because of decades old fierce rivalry between the once dominant sides.
Highlanders, the home side of the day, hope to leverage on their loyal supporters who are expected to pack Barbourfields to the rafters to urge their team on.
The Bulawayo based side lie joint ninth with Herentals College and Dynamos FC, and can do their title aspirations a world of good should they dispatch the visitors.
Caps United, dogged by lack of form and fan unrest, lie joint 14th with Yadah FC and Chicken Inn after scrambling a paltry four points from five games played so far.
Highlanders go into Sunday’s clash as slight favourites on paper. But matches of this magnitude are not determined by current form as the two teams have a tendency to lift their game whenever they lock horns.
Elsewhere, ailing giants Dynamos entertain Chicken Inn at Rufaro stadium on the same day in yet another mouth-watering encounter.
Both teams have suffered a poor start to their campaign with Dynamos picking a single victory from a possible five while their opponents have not registered any victory so far with four draws and a loss.
In another clash on the same day, Herentals host red-hot MWOS at Wadzanayi stadium in Shamva.
Match Day 6 of the Zimbabwe premiership season starts on Saturday with log leaders Ngezi Platinum travelling to TelOne at Ascot stadium.
In other Saturday fixtures, reigning champions Simba Bhora have a date with in-form Manica Diamonds at Wadzanayi stadium in another game to watch while Bikita Minerals host Triangle at Gibbo stadium.
At Rufaro stadium, star-studded Scottland FC will see Khama Billiat play against former paymasters Yadah with Scott Sakupwanya’s side hoping to continue with the sublime form that produced a 3-0 routing of Bikita Minerals last Saturday.
Norman Mapeza’s lukewarm FC Platinum take on Green Fuel FC at Mandava stadium while ZPC Kariba and league debutants Kwekwe United play at Nyamhunga complete the goal rush.
All the weekend fixtures start at 3pm.
