Bosso disgrace

21 Sep, 2014 - 03:09 0 Views
Bosso disgrace

The Sunday News

kaindu

Kelvin Kaindu

Ishemunyoro Chingwere
Harare City ………………..(1) 1
Highlanders…………………..0 HIGHLANDERS’ premiership title charge suffered a heavy blow when the Kelvin Kaindu-coached side fell to Harare City in a Castle Lager Premier Soccer League match played at Rufaro Stadium in Harare yesterday.

Gangling former Hwange and Dynamos striker Francesco Zekumbawire scored the goal that separated the two sides and moved the hosts into the top half of the standings with 31 points.

Bosso, who have perfected the art of failing to make the best of the larger share of possession they usually enjoy, rarely threatened Maxwell Nyamupanedengu’s goal in a match three points could have moved them to just a point of log leading Dynamos.

Early exchanges saw the visitors justifying the 11 points gap that separated them from City going into the match with Felix Chindungwe, Joel Ngodzo and Charles Sibanda monopolising the ball.

But their monopoly was restricted to the midfield as they struggled to weave their magic into the final attacking third.

Despite them not seeing much of the possession, City were the most purposeful and had the first realistic chance to open the scores when Martin Vengesai — playing in an uncustomary midfield role — outpaced Chindungwe before sending in a cross which was fluffed by Osborn Mukuradare in the 23rd minute.

Speed on the counter was always going to be City’s biggest weapon and it rightly paid off in the 28th minute when Mukuradare set up Zekumbawire who outpaced Innocent Mapuranga and Eric Mudzingwa before slotting home with a rising shot that gave a badly exposed Ariel Sibanda no chance.

Bosso could have levelled the scores two minutes from the breather but Sibanda somehow took long to pull the trigger on a loose ball that fell for him after a defensive mix-up between Arnold Chaka and Nyamupanedengu.

Two minutes after the breather Kaindu pulled defensive midfielder Hillary Madzivanyika for Simba Sithole in a move aimed at adding fire power upfront but the move instead eroded their edge in the middle of the park, and sooner than later Harare City began to find pockets of space through the middle.

Speedy Vengesai had a chance to double the lead in the 50th minute charging through the centre before unleashing a pile drive which, however, went over Sibanda’s goal.

It just was not Bosso’s day as even the introduction of Valentine Ndaba and veteran Mthulisi Maphosa failed to unlock Harare City’s defensive shield.

Kaindu, however, remained confident that his charges are still in the title race and could upstage the pacesetters with seven rounds of fixtures still to play.

“No team has been confirmed champions as yet so we are still in the race just like the rest of the teams.

“I think we should have won this match to continue pushing hard for the league (crown), but we gave away an easy goal and I felt we also paid dearly for the guys who were missing through suspensions,” said Kaindu who registered his fourth defeat of the season.

For Dinyero it is the commitment by his players and the ability to continue fighting even with their back pressed against the wall that gave them their ninth victory of the season.

“The fighting spirit was our biggest asset. There were times when we struggled with the rhythm of the game but everybody gave it 110 percent,” said Dinyero who was presented with the August Coach of the Month award at half time. Highlanders’ Charles Sibanda was also presented with the Player of the Month awards for June, July and August.

Teams

Harare City: M Nyamupanedengu, T Mamvura, M Nyenye, D Kutyauripo, A Chaka, R Uchena, J Jam, W Manondo (T Kadewere 68t), O Mukuradare, M Vengesai, F Zekumbawire

Highlanders: A Sibanda, W Ndiweni, E Mudzingwa, I Mapuranga, B Kangwa, H Madzivanyika (S Sithole 47th), F Chindungwe, R Kutsanzira (V Ndaba 63rd), G Nyoni (M Maphosa 73rd), C Sibanda, J Ngodzo.

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