De Jongh calls for physical and mental preparedness ahead of a ‘tougher’ Herentals assignment

Technical Manager Hendrikus Pieter de Jongh has predicted that the match agaisnt Herentals is going to be tougher than the Chicken Inn one which his charges won comfortably last Wednesday and called for mental and physical preparedness from his players.

Bosso face Herentals at National Sports Stadium this afternoon, and the Dutchman who has done a lot of research about his side’s opponents believes if Highlanders are to go back to Bulawayo with a positive result, they will have to work harder than they did against Chicken Inn on Wednesday.

Brian Banda and Prince Dube scored in the second half to propel Bosso to a moral-lifting 2-0 victory over their boggy side Chicken Inn.

De Jongh says according to the information he has about Herentals, this afternoon opponents play a more physical game, and like committing a lot of bodies behind the ball.

“On Sunday we play Herentals, difficult match. [Thursday] they played to a 0-0 against Manica Diamonds. For the 0-0 says enough,”

“They play behind the ball a lot, so it will be a difficult match. It’s a league where any team can lose to anyone, it’s not easy,”

“We must look at ourselves and say we want good results. I believe in the boys, their mood is good. I believe in good results I hope we come back with good results from Harare,” said de Jongh.

Despite being impressed by Adrian Silla who came in for Devine Mhindirira in the 36th minute against Chicken Inn, the Dutchman will not be able to field the midfielder who is serving a one match suspension for accumulating three yellow cards.

In the reverse fixture the two sides played to a goalless draw at Barbourfields Stadium – a tie which Herentals literally turned into a rugby match, with Tinotenda Benza injuring wing-backs Mbongeni Ndlovu and MacClive Phiri and escaping without a caution.

Phiri crashed against the pole after being pushed by Herentals midfielder Tinotenda Benza and fructured his right humerus before he was taken straight to hospital after being attended to by team medics.

Benza escaped without a caution or warning, as referee Lysias Dika seemed to see nothing wrong with the challenge.

Highlanders who completed a league double against their Sunday opponents last season will be hoping for a positive result, also taking into consideration that since they were promoted into the top flight, Herentals are yet to score a goal against Bosso.

Last season Ozias Zibande scored a second half brace to hand Herentals a 0-2 home defeat before Adrian Silla’s cracker sealed a 1-0 victory for Bosso at Barbourfields Stadium.