The Sunday News
TEN months after he was forced to throw in the towel as Highlanders coach by violent fans at Hartsfield Rugby Ground, ex-Bosso player and mentor Kelvin Kaindu returns to Bulawayo to face off his former club when he leads Triangle in a Castle Lager Premier Soccer League battle at Barbourfields Stadium this afternoon.
Kaindu walked away from Highlanders following a violent reaction from the team’s supporters, angry over a 3-1 loss to ZPC Kariba in September last year.
While many believe Kaindu was forced out by the Peter Dube-led executive, the Highlanders chairman recently explained that the Zambian opted to step down because of the fans’ behaviour on that day as he feared lives could be lost if he had continued to be in charge while the results were not favouring the team.
While Highlanders are struggling under Bongani Mafu, Kaindu is enjoying a new lease of life at the Lowveld-based side who have started the season on a bright note.
The Sugar Boys have so far picked up 27 points from the 14 matches they have played, with eight wins, three draws and the same number of defeats. Kaindu’s men have found the target 30 times while conceding 11 goals which sees them with the highest goal difference.
In contrast, Highlanders only have 19 points with five wins, four draws and five defeats, the latest coming in controversial circumstances when they went down 3-2 to fierce rivals Dynamos in Harare last Sunday where assistant referee Bongani Gadzikwa stole the limelight for all the wrong reasons by denying them a clear goal ruling that Edmore Muzanenhamo was offside.
Highlanders’ fans must be regretting their violent behaviour on that fateful afternoon when Kaindu and his players were marooned at the centre of Hartsfield, shielded away by the police as stones were raining in on them.
Songs have even been composed as a sign that they must be missing the Zambian who twice gave Dynamos a good run for the championship and also lifted the Mbada Diamonds Cup in 2013. “UKK wayangaphi mvumeleni aphenduke (Where did KK go, allow him to return),’’ the Highlanders fans continue to sing.
When Kaindu came to Bulawayo for the Triangle clash against Chicken Inn in May at Luveve Stadium, fans clad in Highlanders colours fell over each other to greet the Zambian coach at the end of the match.
To Kaindu, he is taking it like any other fixture with no hard feelings involved. He is aware that he is likely to come across those who like him and those who think he failed Highlanders.
“No hard feelings maybe when I will be at BF but I am just taking it like any other game, the only difference is that I am an opponent now. I will be meeting my friends and possibly my enemies. I have gotten over what happened at Hartsfield, it pushed me to my destiny,’’ said Kaindu.
Highlanders have not played well at Barbourfields this season compared to their away performances. Mafu has made a passionate plea to the fans to inspire the players as that will motivate the team to win.
“My plea to the fans is to continue to push the players, we expect the kind of support they showed us against FC Platinum and Dynamos. It does not do the players any good when the fans keep jeering them every time they make a mistake. At the same time the players have a duty to please the supporters,’’ said Mafu.
Goalkeeper Ariel Sibanda, guilty together with his defence, of conceding goals they should have not let in against Dynamos last Sunday is likely to be replaced in the starting line up by Njabulo Nyoni or Takunda Mutanga. During the club’s weekly Press briefings, Mafu said he was not happy with his goalkeepers since most of the defensive errors have resulted in goals.
Honest Moyo, converted from a left back to the central defence, was also jittery against Dynamos and could pave way for the hungry club captain Felix Chindungwe. The Highlanders captain was dropped for the matches against How Mine and Dynamos for his defensive blunders when Bosso took on Chicken Inn. It was highly expected that the former Warriors defender could finish the remainder of his two-year contract on loan but that seems to have changed with the player prepared to fight for his place in the team.
Erick Mudzingwa, Bruce Kangwa and Webster Chingodza are certain to keep their places in the starting line up at the back together with King Nadolo, Simon Munawa, Edmore Muzanenhamo and Rahman Kutsanzira in midfield. Upfront, Highlanders are still without the injured Gabriel Nyoni and suspended Thomas Chideu.
The two were not missed at all last Sunday as Knox Mutizwa and Obadiah Tarumbwa put up a marvellous show against Dynamos. The two will once again be tasked with providing the much needed goals for Highlanders this afternoon.
Despite their struggles this season, Highlanders head into the fixture as favourites. Triangle have never beaten the former champions since they earned promotion in 2013.
Highlanders triumphed 2-1 in the first meeting between the two teams at the Gibbo Stadium in April 2013 and again picked up maximum points in the return fixture at Barbourfields. Last season, the two sides played out a 1-1 in Triangle before Bosso won 1-0 at Hartsfield.
The visitors will be heavily reliant on the exploits of Charles Rukwani, Felix Kutswatuka and Tichaona Chipunza in their quest to record their first victory over Highlanders. Some of the injured key players are Graham Ncube, Jimmy Dzingai and Nhamo Lameck.
In other matches lined up this afternoon, log leaders Chicken Inn face a stern test when they go up against Caps United at the National Sports Stadium, minnows Dongo Sawmills and Whawha clash at Vengere Stadium, defending champions Dynamos are away to Hwange at the Colliery Stadium, a venue where they have found the going tough in their last two visits, while Buffaloes welcome How Mine at Sakubva Stadium in Mutare.
