HIGHLANDERS put up a class act in the last 25 minutes of the game to subdue a determined Harare City in a Castle Lager Premiership football match played at Barbourfields Stadium yesterday.
REPORT BY FORTUNE MBELE
Njabulo “Tshiki” Ncube was the toast of the day and scored his second goal in two matches, providing the assist for Peter “Rio” Moyo as Bosso upstaged a gritty Harare City in front of their home crowd.
This was a sweet victory for head coach Kelvin Kaindu as his side drew back-to-back with the Harare Municipality side last season.
But Tshiki will definitely share the man-of-the-match tag with goalkeeper Munyaradzi Diya, who also shut out the marauding Harare City strikers, making five outstanding saves as the visitors were a better side in the first half.
“I think it was an important win for us as we drew with Harare City both home and away last year. Harare City are a very strong side and they gave us a good game, but I am happy we got the three points. Tshiki is so exciting he has made our game easy. Remember he has not only scored two goals, but he has been scoring in every match that he has played even in pre-season,” Kaindu said.
After being held up by the visitors for the better part of the game, the introduction of left-winger Bruce Kangwa for an ineffective Graham Ncube in the 57th minute worked wonders for the Bulawayo giants.
A formidable build-up almost produced a goal for Highlanders in the 66th minute, but Tshiki skied his effort after he was set up from a move originated by Kangwa from the left.
- 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
A minute later, Tshiki exchanged brilliant passes with Milton Ncube and Kangwa and the burly forward dummied Harare City central defender Edgar Tapera before rifling a shot to the near post sending about 12 000 Bosso fans into a frenzy.
Five minutes later, Rio tried a Diego Maradona “Hand of God” after a receiving a cross from an out-of-form Masimba Mambare, but an alert centre-man Nduna Nkosana cautioned the dreadlocked midfielder, who had come in for Douglas Sibanda in 32nd minute, disallowing the goal.
Rio then atoned for his offence five minutes later with a first-time stinger inside the box after he was set up by the impressive Tshiki, who many in the Highlanders family had written off.
But it was the work rate of the Harare City quartet of captain Godfrey Nguwodzawo, William Manondo, James Jam and Talent Chawapihwa that almost outdid Bosso, who have to pay tribute to shot stopper Diya, who made immaculate saves to deny the Harare side a single goal the entire 90 minutes.
“It was a very good game. We had our chances, but we wasted them especially in the first half. We are going to regroup and are going to keep up the fight.
“We are a new team and we will definitely come good. The first two games that we have played against the country’s big clubs have given us a good reflection.
Njabulo (Ncube) is a very experienced player and he got the better of our defenders,” Harare City coach Bigboy Mawiwi said after the match.
