The Sunday News
Senior Sports Reporter
WHEN Ngezi Platinum Stars took on Highlanders at Barbourfields Stadium at the end of last month, their coach Tonderai Ndiraya was convinced that referee Philani Ncube had been unfair to them by awarding a penalty to Bosso in the 90th minute.
Erick Mudzingwa, who has been the Highlanders captain for the better part of the second half of the season, thumped the ball into the roof of the net for his team to win 2-1. At the post match Press conference, Ndiraya told journalists that he strongly believed there had been no contact between his defender and Ralph Matema therefore Ncube was wrong to point to the spot.
With the match having been televised on SuperSport, Ndiraya is sure to have by now seen Talent Chamboko pulling down Matema in the box to concede the penalty.
However, losing the match right at the end should serve as enough motivation for Ndiraya and his team when they take on the Bulawayo Premiership football giants in the semi-finals of the Chibuku Super Cup. Highlanders have conquered Ngezi Platinum Stars home and away this season with Bosso winning the first ever meeting between the sides 4-1 at Baobab Stadium.
Even with the match being played at Barbourfields, in terms of the draw, Ngezi are the home team but the two teams will split whatever is collected from the gates in half after the service providers have been paid.
Highlanders have recorded nine straight wins with seven victories in the league and the two triumphs in the Chibuku Super Cup. Bosso coach Erol Akbay’s feeling is that judging by how they played the last time they met at Emagumeni, Ndiraya’s men would want to take the game to penalties, something they want to avoid by scoring a number of goals in the first half to ensure they make life easy for themselves in the second period.
“We know how they play, two times we have played against then, I think they want to draw and go to penalties, we have to make sure that we don’t go to penalties, we have to score two, three times in the first half and play easy in the second half,’’ said Akbay.
The Bosso coach has already achieved the top four finish target given to him when he signed up at the beginning of the year with Highlanders certain to end the season as one of the best three teams in the Castle Lager Premier Soccer League whatever happens in the remaining fixtures. Akbay pointed out that targets only matter when a coach gets fired from his job. He has already lifted the Zimbabwe National Army Commander’s Charities Shield and also reached the Independence Cup final where Bosso were beaten 2-1 by Chicken Inn.
Impressive defender Peter Muduhwa will marshal the Bosso defence with Tendai Ndlovu, Honest Moyo while on the right side of the backline Akbay has to choose between the versatile Tendai Ngulube and Benson Phiri who makes a return after missing last Sunday’s league encounter against Bulawayo City through suspension. Phiri had actually been sidelined for some weeks by injury until his return in the 1-0 league win over Chapungu.
Mudzingwa has been remarkable as the defensive linkman and if he can gel well with Allen Gahadzikwa, King Nadolo, Rahman Kutsanzira as well as Munawa, then Bosso can create a lot of chances for their strikers. Prince Dube, speedy Gabriel Nyoni are certain to be handed the task of leading the Bosso attack with veteran Matema sure to come off the bench in the second half.
Nonetheless, with the fighting spirit shown by Ngezi in the last meeting between the two teams, it will be hard for Bosso to conquer them for the third time this season. Ngezi Platinum Stars have been impressive in their march to the Chibuku Super Cup last four with an incredible seven goals scored in two matches. They defeated Hwange 3-1 in the first round, a result they followed up with a 4-1 drubbing handed out to Tsholotsho.
Players such as seasoned defender Partson Jaure, Liberty Chakoroma, Mchisa, James Marufu, Chamboko, Daniel Kamunhenga and James Nguluve could give Bosso a hard time to send their team to the 5 November final. The winner will meet FC Platinum, who beat holders Harare City in the first semi final played yesterday.
Twitter: @Mdawini_29
