Bosso out to atone for poor form

14 Sep, 2014 - 05:09 0 Views
Bosso out to atone for poor form

The Sunday News

CAN Highlanders’ embattled coach Kelvin Kaindu rekindle the memories of yesteryear by bagging the Chibuku Super Cup and put behind the setbacks of recent weeks?
That mission starts today when Highlanders date bogey side How Mine in the quarter-finals of the prestigious trophy at Hartsfield Rugby Stadium this afternoon.

It has been a hectic ride for the Zambian mentor whose woes have not been helped by the 4-1 thrashing by their bitter rivals Dynamos in the TM Pick n Pay Challenge Trophy final at the National Sports Stadium in Harare last weekend.

Already knives have been drawn out for Kaindu and his stuttering lads following that humiliation.
Someone once said: “Sometimes it takes a good fall to really know where you stand.”

And today the big test for Highlanders will not only be seeking a berth to the next round of the prestigious tournament, but it will also be how they have managed to pick themselves up following that huge setback against the “mighty” DeMbare.

In their last match against Dynamos, Highlanders were their worst enemies, the players failed to come to the party, their play was devoid of their characteristic neat passing, the defence just leaked like a sieve, the midfield pairing was pathetic, coupled with a toothless attack, raising questions about their pedigree and the players’ commitment to the cause.

And as if stung by that loss the authorities at No.50 Robert Mugabe Street appeared to have opened their eyes to the real world and apparently went on to stem the “rot” by suspending striker Njabulo “Tshiki” Ncube, and also giving the benefit of doubt to the wayward duo of Charles Sibanda and Joel Ngodzo, while replacing captain Innocent Mapuranga with the inspirational goalminder, Ariel Sibanda.

The absence of “Tshiki” might prove a blessing for the likes of new boys Simba Sithole and Kudzi Machazane, a young lion, still eager to gain fame and recognition and the hard running Gabriel Nyoni, to prove their worth.
In as many matches Highlanders have proved to flatter only to deceive.

They say the secret to success is hunger, but that has been lacking at Highlanders. Admittedly, they have shone lots of it in the first half, but just like a candle in the wind, they have gone on to fade in the second and final period.
The loss to Dynamos might prove a wake call for Kaindu and his men, to up the ante.

While DeMbare played like a pack of hungry beasts that had not had a decent chunk of impala in days, Highlanders resembled sheep being led to the slaughter.

However, ahead of this encounter, and in the midst of that forgettable trip to Harare last weekend, Kaindu seemed unperturbed, saying: “We cannot change the past but we can influence what is ahead of us.’’

Following the Bosso executives’ collective statement during the week, a different Highlanders show will be eagerly awaited this afternoon more so among its hard-to-please supporters. Are the supporters going to see the heart and hunger that Bosso have been renowned for? Will Highlanders be out there to restore their diminishing pride?

And today How Mine might prove to be the biggest hurdle to that cause. Chikurupati are a side capable of upsetting the applecart. After-all they showed that they have no respect for history, and that they have no respect for “big brands” as shown in their last cup outing against Highlanders, when they dumped the oldest football institution in Zimbabwe out of the One Wallet Cup at the first hurdle, albeit through the dreaded lottery. They can also recall beating the same team twice in the league last season.

How Mine coach Luke Masomere should be taken seriously. He is a shrewd soccer coach par excellence. Give him the players and “Vahombe” won’t disappoint. Remember this is the guy who moulded the now defunct AmaZulu Football Cup into an industrious, potent and professional side that went on to win the league championship against all odds. The self-proclaimed doctor of Zimbabwe football’s burning desire always remains to make a name for himself and his team, a factor that might lead to more discontent in the Mantengwane family.

“Playing Highlanders has never been easy. They have been going through a bad spell and I believe they are leaving no stone unturned as they seek better fortunes. We are very much aware that they are sleeping giants who we can’t compare to us on any day because they are capable of winning convincingly even away from home. They are just looking for an opportunity to wake up and we have done everything to avoid being their victims,’’ warned Masomere.
Highlanders will once again look to the composure and poise of both Felix Chindungwe and goalminder Sibanda, their heroes last weekend albeit on a losing cause, while their midfielders, defence and strikers, should now have awakened from that deep slumber witnessed at the NSS last Saturday.

How Mine, on the other hand, welcome back into the fray one of their influential players, Menard Mupera after a long injury layoff.

How Mine might also unleash a secret weapon in Mandla Sibanda, who recently joined up from Ecco City in Botswana. He joins other useful players in the squad that include the country’s current second best goal scorer Kuda Musharu and former Highlanders captain Gilbert Banda, George Magariro and goalkeeper Ephraim Mazarura.

Meanwhile, the Black Rhinos versus Triangle clash at Ascot Stadium tomorrow wraps up the fight for the semi-final berths of the competition.

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