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Can Tsholotsho slay Bosso?

Sport
IT has been a stunning start for the new Castle Lager Premier Soccer League boys Tsholotsho FC following their 1-0 win over Harare City last Friday, but the real test comes against Highlanders at Barbourfields Stadium tomorrow.

IT has been a stunning start for the new Castle Lager Premier Soccer League boys Tsholotsho FC following their 1-0 win over Harare City last Friday, but the real test comes against Highlanders at Barbourfields Stadium tomorrow.

BY WELLINGTON TONI

Three points away from home in their opening match-and PSL debut-can inspire any team and Tsholotsho is no exception.

Not that Harare City did not provide any competition on that Friday afternoon: they did, but too many new boys and a loaded technical bench did not help matters.

Tsholotsho — the second team from Matabeleland North in the PSL after Hwange, played basic football: pass and run into space, be first to the ball and cover for the defence in times of a raid. When the chance provides, hit your opponent on the counter.

This is the same kind of football that Tsholotsho will expect to display in more familiar surroundings of Barbourfields Stadium tomorrow afternoon against a clearly under pressure Highlanders, still smarting from a 2-0 defeat to ZPC Kariba last Saturday.

Bosso coach Bongani Mafu knows he has little time to reverse that loss. He, according to Tsholotsho coach Lizwe Sweswe, is under pressure to produce results.

“Highlanders are a big team and we have to work on the boys’ psychological strength so that they do not succumb to nerves.

“We expect many fans to show up and since most of these boys are not used to playing in front of big crowds it is important to drum it into their heads that football is the same no matter where you play.

“As PSL newcomers from a rural-set up not much is expected of us and that takes away a lot of pressure when playing against giants like Highlanders.

“Our mission is to stay in the PSL and expose our players so the aim will be to avoid dropping points while on the other hand Highlanders will be under pressure to give their fans something to smile about after a poor start,” Sweswe told our sister paper Southern Eye on Thursday.

The wealth of experience in the Bosso camp gives them a certain advantage, but lacked Plan B when losing to ZPC last Saturday.

In Under 23 star striker Thomas Chideu, they have a player who exhibits that indeed he is technical superior coming from an English set-up, but does Bosso have other players who can step when needed most? That was not seen against ZPC.

Gabriel Nyoni and Obadiah Tarumbwa also need to step up.

Mthulisi Maphosa is no longer a 90 minute player, but needs to start the match to guide Nqobizitha Masuku and Teenage Hadebe, Bruce Kangwa needs to be allowed to roam up while captain Felix Chindungwe, Douglas Sibanda, Webster Chingodza and Honest Moyo maintain shape at the back.

“They (Tsholotsho) are a very good side that we must approach with care. Tsholotsho must not be taken for granted. They are on cloud nine after beating Harare City and we lost our first game. Everyone accepted that and we have got to redress the situation and perform. We need to show what we have got but it is going to be a tough match on Sunday,” Mafu said on Thursday.