Highlanders coach Kaindu confident

By The NewsDay | Mar. 2, 2013 | 3 Min read

HIGHLANDERS — suffering a dearth in their strike force that has seen them score just two goals in four matches prior to the beginning of the 2013 Premiership season — have added two more players to that department for the upcoming season.

Head coach Kelvin Kaindu yesterday said he was confident in the team that the technical department had come up with although he would have wanted to concentrate on the finishing.

The finishing has been the major undoing of the Bulawayo football giants, who were last Sunday humbled 4-0 by perennial rivals Dynamos to lose out 6-1 on goal aggregate in the first silverware of the season, the Bob 89 Super Cup.

“We would have wanted to concentrate on the finishing and what we wanted was to reinforce the strike force, but we looked at what was available on the market and we decided to bring in the two midfielders and a striker.

“We would have wanted to have five or six strikers, but I am confident in the team that we have come up with,” Kaindu said yesterday after naming his 2013 squad.

Bosso have decide to re-unite with Njabulo “Tshiki” Ncube, who returns from Botswana Meat Commission, and have also signed his teammate from the Batswana side, attacking midfielder Hillary Madzivanyika, to beef up the attack.

Tshiki, who left Bosso mid 2010 after scoring five goals, and Madzivanyika add on to Beaven Chikaka, Knox Mutizwa, Ozias Zibande and Cleopas Dube.

Kaindu and his lieutenants in the technical department have shown faith in Graham Ncube, whoFrom Page 32has been partnering the retained trio of 2012 Castle Lager Soccer Star of the Year first runner-up Masimba Mambare, Milton Ncube and Bhekimpilo Ncube in attack.

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Another new signing comes from Gwanda Ramblers in the form of defensive midfielder Douglas Sibanda, who joins Mthulisi Maphosa, Heritani Masuku, Peter “Rio” Moyo and Simon “Yola” Munawa in the centre.

Kaindu has kept faith in his defence of skipper Innocent Mapuranga, partnered in the centre by the impressive Erick Mudzingwa and wingbacks Bruce Kangwa, Lawson Nkomo and Bruce Tshuma.

Dumisani “Fazo” Ndlovu and Honest Moyo have also been kept in the team.

Ryan Howes, Mgcini Sibanda, Bobby Nkomo, Chidzani Malaba and Lucky Nyoni make up the rookies contingent with the only senior who was axed from the squad being former Black Mambas defender, right-back Atlast Musasa.

Musasa had no qualms about his axing, posting on his Facebook page yesterday: “I would like to take this time to thank everyone who supported me when I was at Highlanders. I really enjoyed my life there although my wish was to give the people of Bulawayo that championship cup. I thank all my team mates for the great support and team work we had. It was a long and tough journey. To Kaindu and your technical team, thank u a lot for being both a great coach and father figure.”

Former striker Thabani Moyo and the Motor Action duo of Thembani Masuku and Fortune “Fokoza” Ncube did not make the grade while the youthful trio of Arnold Ndiweni, Takunda Sadiki and Lewis “Rambo” Ncube, who many thought were in their prime for first team jerseys, were also shown the exit door.

Also retained are Warriors goalkeeper Ariel Sibanda and his reserves Munyaradzi Diya and Archieford Katsande.

Bosso face Premiership debutantes Tripple B in yet another pre-season encounter at Barbourfields Stadium tomorrow.