As results continue to elude Highlanders, coach Erol Akbay will conduct an inquest to try and pick out the problems that have seen the Castle Lager Premier Soccer League giants go through shocking loss of form in the last two months.
BY FORTUNE MBELE
Bosso lost their weekend match to ZPC Kariba away from home and with that result, they have gone for six matches without a win in a period where they scored just two goals.
In the last nine matches, Highlanders managed to score three goals and their problems have been exacerbated by the departure of their top marksmen Knox Mutizwa, who is now in South Africa, and Bruce Kangwa, now plying his trade in the Tanzanian topflight league.
Yesterday, Akbay said the situation was unacceptable for a club of Highlanders’ stature and today he will begin an inquiry.
Highlanders last tasted victory on July 17 when they beat Caps United 1-0 at Barbourfields Stadium and have only picked two points from a possible 18.
Saturday was Highlanders’ sixth defeat in 20 matches.
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The Bulawayo giants’ title quest has been thrown into disarray with the loss of form, where they lost to Caps United, Triangle and Mutare City Rovers before Saturday’s defeat to Sunday Chidzambwa’s side.
While Akbay seeks answers, he knows part of the problem is the loss of the two strikers.
Injuries and suspensions have also rocked Highlanders of late so much that the Dutch coach has struggled to field a regular starting 11.
“The strange thing is that we have been doing well at training, but I don’t know what happens when it comes to real-game situations,” Akbay said. “In the last six games, we created six to seven chances in each match, but we failed to convert them. Tomorrow (today) we will have a serious talk with the boys. This is not acceptable. But the other thing is that our performance was affected when those two guys – Kangwa and Mutizwa– left and after that, we have had suspensions and injuries,” he said.
The Dutchman said from the outset, his strategy had been to play high-tempo football, but that was being affected by the changes that he was encountering every week.
“We have to play high-tempo football to make it difficult for our opponents, but that is not achievable when you have to change the team week in week out. In the mid-season transfer, the club had no money to beef up the squad and after Mutizwa and Kangwa left, the team lost rhythm and that has been compounded by injuries and suspensions. With the type of football that I want, it’s practically impossible when you are affected by such changes. But when everybody is back, I am sure will get back to our winning ways,” he added.
He described mid-season acquisition Allen Gahadzikwa as a good player bringing in the experience, while striker Nhlanhla Ndlovu needed time to adjust to the Premier Soccer League.
Players that have been dogged by injuries are Benson Phiri, Honest Moyo, Tendai Ndlovu, Rahman Kutsanzira, King Nadolo, Ralph Matema and Prince Dube.
Highlanders host How Mine at Barbourfields in their next assignment.
Castle Lager Premier Soccer League Week 21 Fixtures Friday: Harare City v Bulawayo City (Rufaro Stadium) Saturday: Caps United v Mutare City Rovers (National Sports Stadium), Chapungu v Border Strikers (Ascot), FC Platinum v Chicken Inn (Mandava), Tsholotsho v ZPC Kariba (Luveve) Sunday: Highlanders v How Mine (Barbourfields), Hwange v Triangle (Colliery), Ngezi Platinum v Dynamos (Baobab)
