HARARE - The small mining town of Hwange will be burning for two reasons tomorrow when Chipangano host defending champions Dynamos in an emotional Castle Premiership match at the colliery in a match that has all the ingredients for a gripping thriller.

Firstly, temperatures in the remote area of Hwange often rise to unbearable levels, averaging above 42 degrees celsius as of Wednesday.

The meteorological department has predicted a decrease to 35 degrees celsius for today and tomorrow.

Temperatures, on the other hand, are also expected to rise above boiling point on the pitch when Hwange host log leaders Dynamos in the return fixture of a match marred by controversy back in May when the coalminers’ coaches Nation Dube and Mamelo Njekwa were assaulted by Dynamos marshals before the match, won 4-2 by Dynamos.

The two coaches were rushed to hospital and upon returning to the stadium, could not direct operations from the bench.

A PSL disciplinary committee initially stripped Dynamos of the three points, but the Glamour Boys were awarded back the points after successfully appealing to the Zifa Appeals Committee.

Relegation-threatened Hwange have since appealed against the decision. The matter is now before the Commercial Arbitration Centre.

This sets the tone for what promises to be an explosive grudge match in Hwange tomorrow.

Hwange head coach Dube has however downplayed the sideshow to the match, insisting there is no hostility beating the two clubs.

 “This is another game and we have long gone past that Harare chapter because we are a football people, hence we will fight our battle in the field of play,” Dube said.

 “We are not going to intimidate anyone, instead we will maintain a conducive environment for football just like we have always done in every match. We are worried about the position we are in and we are just going to try and rectify our mistakes so that we can prevail over Dynamos.”

The Glamour Boys come into the match high on confidence following their 4-1 destruction of Shabanie Mine last weekend, a result which saw them reclaim pole position from Highlanders.
 
Calisto Pasuwa’s men now lead the standings with 55 points from 24 matches, two points ahead of Bosso, who are second with 53 points from the same number of games.

The coalminers have endured a seven-game winless streak, their last defeat being a 2-0 loss to Black Mambas in a mid-week fixture at Morris Depot on Wednesday.

They occupy 12th position with 26 points from 24 games.

Dube, however, has remained defiant that his team will not go down come season-end.

“Everyone is worried, which is why we are saying let’s keep on working hard and something will happen,” he added.

“But I’m confident that we will bounce back. We only need to correct a few mistakes and we will be okay.”