FOLLOWING a dramatic 2-1 penalty shootout victory over Scottland, Highlanders coach Peter De Jongh was full of praise for goalkeeper Ariel Sibanda.
After Sibanda’s heroics sent Bosso through to the Chibuku Super Cup semi-finals at Barbourfields Stadium, De Jongh took the opportunity to criticise the media for their reporting on his decision to reinstate the veteran keeper.
Sibanda, the club’s captain, was sidelined for the better part of the season, with Reward Muza and Raphael Pitisi preferred ahead of him.
At 36, Sibanda was no longer a crowd favourite, with many Bosso fans calling for his retirement.
Earlier in the year, he even took part in a goalkeeping coaching course, a move that suggested he was considering hanging up his gloves.
However, his performance on Sunday was a definite pull from the top drawer, proving his doubters wrong.
After the match ended in a 2-2 stalemate, Sibanda became the hero of the penalty shootout, denying three Scottland players.
His agility was particularly notable when he saved shots from Terrence Dzukamanja and Godknows Murwira, proving he’s still fit enough to play at the top level.
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De Jongh lambasted members of the media, accusing them of being non-factual when reporting on his decision to bring Sibanda back.
“You write a lot of stories in the newspapers, magazines, radios and television without facts,” De Jongh said.
“You don’t know how I train, the decisions I make, and why I make those decisions. You need today (when he performs well) and this moment.”
He added that when he first arrived at Highlanders, he noticed the team lacked leadership.
“When Ariel is in the team, there is balance and leadership. That was the reason for me to bring him in as the number one. There was no leadership in the team.
“He is a guy with experience and is the captain of the team. From my observation at training, the team was missing leadership, and Ariel is proving that [bringing him back] was the right decision week in, week out,” he concluded.
The former Zimbabwe Warriors national team goalkeeper looked assured and comfortable throughout the afternoon, launching almost all of Bosso’s forays from the back.
Sibanda holds the record for winning the goalkeeper of the year four times, solidifying his status as a legend of local football.
Scottland coach Tonderai Ndiraya was also puzzled by his players missing their spot kicks, especially since they were all clinical during training sessions before the quarter-final clash.
“I think our players were under immense pressure from the game itself and the penalty shootouts,” Ndiraya said.
“We failed to convert and only converted one. But if you look at how we trained those penalties, all those who missed were very good.
“Unfortunately, with the pressure that was on them, they crumbled and missed.”
He was also quick to mention Sibanda’s heroics and the pressure on his players.
“But I also should give credit to Ariel. I think we all know Ariel. He is very good at saving penalties and he did that, so credit to him and Highlanders for coming back into the game. They showed character,” he said.
Ever since De Jongh took over from interim coach Try Ncube, he has preferred Sibanda ahead of the two other young goalkeepers.
Highlanders will now take on their arch-rivals Dynamos next month in the semi-finals, a match that promises to be an electrifying encounter at Rufaro Stadium.
Fixtures
Semi-Final 1: Saturday October 25, 2025 — MWOS FC vs Triangle Utd at Ngoni Stadium
Semi-Final 2: Sunday October 26, 2025 — Dynamos vs Highlanders at Rufaro Stadium
