Bulawayo Derby: Highlanders and Chicken Inn meet again at Barbourfields

Highlanders and Chicken Inn will renew the Bulawayo Derby at Barbourfields Stadium on Wednesday afternoon. The fixture is their second meeting in a matter of days, with Bosso holding the edge after the previous encounter was settled by a penalty shootout.

That earlier match came in the Chibuku Super Cup, where Highlanders defeated their city rivals after neither side could decide the contest in normal play. The Castle Lager Premier Soccer League meeting now gives Chicken Inn an immediate opportunity to respond, while Highlanders are seeking another victory over the Gamecocks in the same week.

Highlanders will again be without head coach Benjani Mwaruwari. The former Zimbabwe international remains away from the technical area as he continues his recovery from illness.

The Highlanders group named for the derby includes goalkeeper Aron Ngwenya, along with Nomore Chinyerere, Mongameli Tshuma, Kudakwashe Mahachi, Andrew Mbeba, Rainsome Pavari, Tawanda Shenje, Never Rauzhi, Darlington Mukuli, Benjamin Adeogun and Brighton Makopa.

Chicken Inn’s listed players are Itai Mabunu, Brendon Rendo, Mpumelelo Bhebhe, Man Ykre Hapmo, Tyrese Hukupembe, Garie Chibika, Thulani Joseph, Junior Makunike, Claude Macharaga and Michael Charamba.

The setting adds another chapter to one of Bulawayo’s established rivalries, but the recent cup outcome gives this league fixture a specific focus. Highlanders arrive with the psychological benefit of having eliminated Chicken Inn in the shootout, while the Gamecocks have the chance to prevent their neighbours from completing a quick double over them. The match remains a league contest despite the short turnaround from the cup meeting, and both sides return to Barbourfields with the derby balance still at stake.