DESPITE their painful defeat to Chicken Inn on Sunday, Highlanders coach Kelvin Kaindu is pleased with his team's performance in that Castle Lager Premier Soccer League match.
Highlanders’ six-match unbeaten run in the league came to a halt in the derby match.
The loss came just two days after the Bulawayo giants fell to Dynamos in the final of the Independence Cup in Buhera where Kaindu rested his regular players with one eye on the derby.
But Highlanders still lost to Chicken Inn after two blunders by veteran goalkeeper Ariel Sibanda resulted in the Gamecocks’ two goals with Highlanders getting consolation from the league’s leading scorer Lynoth Chikuhwa who is now on five goals in seven matches.
Highlanders, without suspended right-back Marvelous Chigumira were on the back foot, especially in defence with the midfield also contained by Chicken Inn, who had veteran Danny “Deco” Phiri calling the shots.
Highlanders were on the upper hand when the game started, attacking Chicken Inn nonstop, but the visitors caught the Bulawayo giants on the break as Brian Muza made a solo run before beating goalkeeper Ariel Sibanda.
For the second goal, Bosso made a catalog of errors that led to the goal.
Highlanders, however, remain at the top on the log standings after some of their rivals also dropped points.
- Chicken Inn knockout Harare City
- FC Platinum 8 points clear as Chicken Inn falters again
- Panashe Mutasa comes of age at Tenax FC
- Dynamos back to winning ways
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Simba Bhora lost to Bulawayo Chiefs at Luveve Stadium and FC Platinum were held to a 2-2 draw at home by Bikita Minerals.
Kaindu said he knew his team would lose at some point, but chose to focus on the performance rather than the result.
“We thank God for the other results, but want to keep our momentum. We are not gauging our performance on how other teams have played. If we had won, it would have given us a better advantage. Unfortunately, we are not going to win all the games. This is football, but we are happy that slowly we are showing that we can play. There were a few moments in which we showed that we wanted to play, but were hurriedly down by 2-0. But I am happy we created several chances. I am also happy that Sonji (Lynoth Chikuhwa) is always on target and we hope and pray that he keeps on his scoring prowess in every game so that he can pick up his form,” Kaindu said.
But the competition is getting stiffer at the top with Simba Bhora on 13 points, FC Platinum and Chicken Inn on 12 and Bulawayo Chiefs on 11.
Chicken Inn gaffer Joey Antipas believes his strikers are now getting it right.
“We have got the arsenal; we have got (Brighton) Makopa, (Malvin) Hwata, (Clive) Augusto and Brian (Muza). We have been working on them and they responded very well in the last two games and I think in attack we are a very dangerous team. It is good for the guys; the confidence levels are high which is good for us,” Antipas said.
Resurgent Manica Diamonds were on the rise, landing on position six with 10 points after beating Caps United in Mutare, while Dynamos also moved upwards to position seven with nine points after their 1-0 win over TelOne at Rufaro Stadium on Sunday.
