Highlanders. . . . . . . . . . (1) 1 Shooting Stars. . . . . . . . (0) 1
Violence erupted at Barbourfields Stadium on Sunday when suspected Highlanders fans hit and cracked the team bus rear window and smashed a rear windscreen of the car belonging to team manager Jerry Sibanda after Bosso was held to a 1-1 draw by visiting Shooting Stars in a Castle Lager Premiership match.
Highlanders had scored on the stroke of half-time through Rahman Kutsanzira before Elliot Matsika hit the equaliser in the 88th minute.
One of the fans was arrested by the police after the match and Sibanda decided to take the law into his own hands by slapping the fan on the face.
Highlanders, for the greater part of the match was leading by one goal until Elliot Matsika scored an equaliser two minutes before time.
This did not go down well with Highlanders supporters who ran riot after the match and in the process destroying property. Some fans left the stadium before the final whistle to wait outside to vent their anger on the team.
When the team bus was attacked, the players were not yet on board and after the violent scenes only a few boarded the bus as the rest sought alternative transport to their respective homes.
On the field of play, Highlanders could have gone one up in the 36th minute striker Graham Ncube missed from the spot-kick after Shooting Stars player Tigere Muparaganda was adjudged to have handled in the box.
- Chamisa under fire over US$120K donation
- Mavhunga puts DeMbare into Chibuku quarterfinals
- Pension funds bet on Cabora Bassa oilfields
- Councils defy govt fire tender directive
Keep Reading
Highlanders then found the target on the stroke of half time from a Kutsanzira free-kick. Knox Mutizwa had been brought down by Charles Mutero on the left flank resulting in the free-kick.
Former Highlanders striker Francis Kanda was kept under lock-and-key by Highlanders defender Innocent Mapuranga the whole afternoon, but the complexion of the game changed after the introduction of the former Dynamos duo of Matsika and Mashiri for Shooting Stars.
An unmarked Matsika in the box found the equaliser on the 88th minute beating Highlanders goalkeeper Ariel Sibanda.
Highlanders coach Mkhuphali “Mr Cooper” Masuku commended Tendai Ndlovu, Honest Moyo and Xolani Ncube for their effort, but lamented missed chances.
“I am quite satisfied with the overall performance of the youngsters. The youngsters will feature more in the upcoming games. But we created and missed chances,” he said.
Shooting Stars coach Jostein Mathuthu was content with the result.
“We had a poor first half as we were not mobile. We did not play our normal game. But the introduction of Mashiri and Matsika changed the complexion of the game. A point gained from Highlanders at Barbourfields is better although we would have wanted three points,” he said.
