The Herald (Harare)

BULAWAYO giants Highlanders have refused to throw in the towel and believe their Confederation Cup survival hopes hinge on scoring an early goal against Sudanese giants El Merreikh in Khartoum.

Highlanders were left needing to move mountains in order to advance to the third round of the Confederation Cup after they slumped to a 0-2 second round, first leg defeat by the Sudanese outfit at home two weeks ago.

Their coach Methembe Ndlovu admitted as much yesterday but maintained that the mission in Khartoum on Saturday night would not be an insurmountable one.

Ndlovu said although Highlanders had made life much tougher for themselves after conceding two soft goals, they remained confident they could overcome the odds that are staked against them and upstage El Merreikh in the searing heat of Khartoum.

Bosso who are not taking any chances stepped their act in Bulawayo yesterday with Ndlovu expressing satisfaction with the manner their preparations were going.

The Highlanders coach also revealed that his side could also have done well with the services of the experienced defensive pair of Herbert Dick and Gift Lunga when they visit Khartoum.

Dick and Lunga are however, not yet eligible to play in the tournament, as they were not registered on time.

But Ndlovu reckoned that their hopes of turning the tables on El Merreikh lay in Highlanders securing an early goal that would calm their nerves.

The Highlanders and national Under-20 coach also maintained that Bosso would also need to remain resolute at the back to ensure they do not allow the Sudanese to get the early breakthrough and secure a third goal that would literally kill the contest.

"It is obviously not an task that we face in Sudan but that is also not to say they cannot be beaten.

"In football every game is different and in as much as they may have scored here, we can also go there and win.

"I think the key to this game is on who scores first and I think if we score first it will give us a lot of confidence," Ndlovu said. He also revealed that Highlanders, who are expected to fly out to Sudan on Thursday morning, would have a change in approach and throw caution to the wind in their reverse fixture in Khartoum.

"We were very cautious at the back in the first leg given that we do not have a lot of experienced players.

"But now because we need an early goal, we will throw caution to the wind and try and put them under more pressure than we did in Harare, we are working hard in training and we are going to give it our best," Ndlovu said.

In the first leg at Gwanzura, Highlanders also seemed to make a fatal mistake of giving the Sudanese too much respect and did not seize the opportunity to take the game to the visitors whose goalkeeper was barely tested.

But on Saturday, Bosso have vowed to be more adventurous with Ndlovu certain to make a few changes to the side as well as his tactical approach.

One such change could be in his attack that will be given the task of spearheading the search for the early goal that the Bosso coach eagerly wants.

Ndlovu could give former Lancashire Steel forward Jacob Muzokomba the nod to partner Cuthbert Malajila in attack.

Warriors striker Malajila fought a lone battle in the first leg as Douglas Zimbango, who was supposed to be his partner upfront, was anonymous and should not have lasted beyond the first half.

Highlanders would also need to desist from using the long ball which was easily dealt with by the tall Sudanese defenders.

The Bosso midfield, which includes the likes of veterans Richard Choruma and Johannes Ngodzo and Wellington Sibanda would also need to come to the party and ensure that Malajila and Muzokomba are provided with the clean ball that would make it easier for them to trouble the hosts.