Posted 2009-09-04 Jerry Zingwevu

Njube Sundowns football club will be out to settle old scores when they take on log leaders, Dynamos

in a Premier Soccer League (PSL) encounter set for Barbourfileds stadium on Saturday afternoon. The Bulawayo based side will be hard pressed for maximum points in order to steer away from relegation and come Saturday, they are determined to avenge the controversial 2-0 loss they suffered to Dembare in the semi final of the Nestle Charity Shield last month.

However, before Saturday's big game, Sundowns will have to first deal with defending champions, Monomotapa today and hope to get a confidence booster ahead of the Dynamos clash. In seperate interviews held with Sundowns co-director, Isaiah Shoniwa and club secretary, Tavengwa Hara, both were optimistic about Saturday's game and were confident that the temporary shift of venue to Barbourfields instead of their newly adopted Hartsfield ground will work in their favour as they would still enjoy home advantage. “Our team was born in Bulawayo and this where most of our die hard faithfuls are found.Whether we play at BF, Hartsfield or White City, we will still play like a home team aiming for maximum points”, said Shoniwa. “ We won last week against Underhill and if we beat Monomotapa today, then nothing can stop us aginst Dynamos. We know they are a star studded team but we have beaten them before in the Independence final and we still can beat them”, said Hara.

Sundowns have played Dynamos three times so far this season. In the first round of the PSL, the two teams drew 1-1 when Dynamos' midfileder, Milton Makopa cancelled out Thabani Kamusoko's 16^th minute strike. They met again in the Independence Cup final on April 18 and Sundowns got the better of Dembare with a solitary strike from Evans Chikwaiwai who has since joined South African side, BidVets Wits University. The third meeting was the controversial 2-0 victory by Dembare in a match where Sundowns claimed to have been robbed of a genuine goal by referee, Mlindeli Ndebele. Without Chikwaikwai, Sundowns still boast of potential match winners in striker, Dylan Chivandire, veteran skipper, Sikhumbuzo Banda, national team player, Thabani Kamusoko and “Mr. Sundowns”, Tendai Ngulube.

Dembare will be banking on the exploits of Cuthbert Malaijila who recently returned from a trial stint in Belgium, Wonder Sithole, Captain Desmond Maringwa and stocky midfielder, Milton Makopa who has scored two of the three goals which Dembare have scored against Sundowns this year.