The Sunday News
Cosmas Zulu
Highlanders vs Byo Chiefs
(Barbourfields Stadium, 10/06/2018)
The success of the team is not from a knowledgeable coach, it is from how much the players learn from him.
It showed in this game that Highlanders players have not yet learnt much from their coach, because if Nigel Mukumbe had learnt anything tactical, it blows anyone’s mind how he could give a back pass from the last third of the pitch from the opponent’s half.
You build your moves for a purpose which is to look for openings upfront with forward pass, forward thinking, forward running, one or two square passing, the third is forward giving.
The first half belonged to Byo Chiefs who were constructing well-structured moves to create scoring opportunities and as early the 5th minute they missed a chance to go ahead. Chiefs also used long balls and they managed to send a number of balls into the Highlanders box but their strikers seem to have mastered the art of missing, though there were a few saves from Highlanders goalie Arial Sibanda, who was however, red carded and replaced by Prosper Mathuthu in the first half. Sibanda was sent off for handling the ball outside the box, and Mathuthu got a baptism of fire, scored by a David Beckman like goal bending over the wall free kick. This is one of the best goals scored this season at BF, hence it was jealously defended for the next 55 minutes to give a third loss to Highlanders at home this year. Tactical shrewdness from Bosso could have won the game in the second half. I mentioned this in early games in one of my articles. This was when Highlanders played Triangle FC where I said the team needs a tactical leader and human leader on the starting eleven, without these two leadership qualities it is going to be difficult to win some games.
In the 47th minute we witnessed a thunderbolt drive from Clive Phiri, if it had gone on target nets were going to be torn into pieces. Sinchaili with a bicycle kick also missed the goal narrowly because Chiefs was now parking a train, not a bus. But why?
You ask, when opponents are one man short. It paid though, six points in two games at this stage of the competition is good. I have this to say to Chiefs’ technical staff, the desire to win is greater than the fear to lose.
Cosafa Tournament
Polokwane — South Africa
Congratulations Zimbabwe, it’s the sixth time winning the cup with senior players when some nations play with developmental squads. My question is then what? We have failed since independence to reach the second round of Africa Cup of Nations because we get deceived by winning the “Mbejo” games. Perhaps winning the Cosafa makes Zifa believe we are ok and we don’t need camp to prepare for other matches since we always win.
I am disappointed by Sunday Chidzambwa who keeps mum and not raise the issue of proper preparations because he has won, also Chidzambwa and his assistant Rahman Gumbo sit on the Zifa high performance technical committee. I wonder where they are going to hand the match reports since they are now the national coaches.
Mighty Warriors loss to Zambia
They played two legs inside ten days. Sithethelelwe Sibanda, the national team coach however, blames the loss on poor concentration by her players. She is scared to mention that they travelled to Zambia in a chicken bus. Where is the recovery period coach? Zambians flew in for the game in Harare. Failure to prepare is preparing to fail. Hence you are out of the Africa Cup of Nations tournament Madam.
Talen Vision FC vs Moto Moto
League game — Gifford High school ground
First win for Mkhuphali Masuku, the third win for the team this season after the former Harare City gaffer took over from Czechoslovakian coach who is now the technical director. The only team in Division One with a foreign coach and two Nigerians players nicknamed the “Golden Boys” well funded by: “True Khumbulani Investments” The President being K Nkomo, a soccer loving man rightly supported by his wife who sees that the boys are paid bonus in time. A well polished display of football with three crafted goals, two in the first half, the third coming in the last minutes of the game.
With this kind of a win I think the team can climb to the top of the log. Ladies and gentlemen, you miss good entertainment by not attending these matches. Watching them for free, the writer got four oranges from number one talent vision supporter who came with two sacks of oranges, giving every man and woman on the terraces, celebrating the win. Simon Peter Gabilo yes, a true supporter who does not throw missiles into the pitch or insult the referees.
Below is an interview with Moto Moto coach Friday Mudado after the match
C.Z. What is it that you didn’t do not to lose the game?
F.M. – The refereeing was so poor.
C.Z – How many goals did you score and were disallowed?
F.M. – None
C.Z. – Was there a time during the game your team had more than three complete passes?
F.M. – None
I cannot conclude without mentioning the lady assistant referee who put some splendid work on the touching line giving some bursting sprints to be in line with the play.
World Cup History — 1978 Argentina beat Holland 3-1 After Extra Time.
Feedback Lets keep reading
[email protected] 0773842671
