The Sunday News
FORTUNE knocks once at every man’s door.
In recent years, notwithstanding their not so inspiring form in the league, Highlanders were presented with a chance to make money in knockout competitions, but in as many times, they have behaved like a team that had swallowed the destructive pill, failing to make use of such opportunities.
And for the umpteenth time Highlanders will, this afternoon, again find themselves with a chance not only to go out there and make money, but to salvage what is left of their battered image. And that opportunity, though not enviable is a clash with FC Platinum, a side that has become their source of fear in recent months.
The venue will be once again Mandava Stadium in Zvishavane, and at stake will be a semi-final berth in the rebranded $533 000 Net One Easy Call tournament. For most of the time when presented with such kind of opportunities, Bosso have failed to keep up appearances as an interested party.
Yes, Bosso have this season won the unheralded ZNA Commanders Charity Shield, beating bogey arch-rivals Dynamos 1-0.
However, it has not been lost to all and sundry that, this is the same side that has gone on to show promise only to disappoint their huge followers scattered all over the country. Presented with a chance to make big money in the Chibuku Super Cup earlier this year, Bosso were flattened 4-3 on penalties by the not so neighbourly How Mine.
Last year the Highlanders story in cup games can only be described as “hugely disastrous” and they duly lost out on a possible $260 000. Bosso, who, ironically finished on position five in the league, lost to DeMbare 0-2 in the Bob 90 Super Cup. For their feat DeMbare went all the way smiling to the bank for a cool $45 000. However, Bosso settled for $25 000.
The Bulawayo giants’ spurned another possible big payout in the Net One Wallet Cup. But lo and behold, they were knocked out by How Mine in the quarter-finals in Gweru, losing 3-4 albeit in a penalty shootout following a 1-1 stalemate in regulation time in July.
Triangle subsequently claimed the $80 000 that was at stake for the winners after they beat Dynamos 4-3 in a penalty lottery in the final of that tournament in July at the National Sports Stadium. The Bulawayo giants went on to lose 0-3 to Harare City in the semi-final of the Chibuku Super Cup at Rufaro Stadium in October that year. That piece of silverware and the cool $75 000 that went with the cup went to FC Platinum after they beat Harare City 3-1 in a penalty shoot-out at Mandava Stadium in November.
Earlier in September of that same year Bosso were humiliated 1-4 by bitter rivals Dynamos in the Pick n Pay Challenge Cup in Harare with the Glamour Boys taking home $60 000 while Bosso settled for $50 000.
In November that same year Dynamos once again got the better of Highlanders beating them 4-3 in a penalty shoot-out in the Gushungo Victory Cup to claim the $45 000 prize money with Bosso taking $35 000.
And this year with the Championships and a better placing in the league out of range, Highlanders will be looking to making meaningful progress in the Easy Call Cup, an affair in which the tournament winner will pocket $80 000.
Bosso were the first team to beat Norman Mapeza at home at Mandava when he joined FC Platinum last season. He, however, managed to hold them to a draw in their first meeting at the same venue and later went to collect maximum points at Barbourfields following a 2-1 victory in the reverse fixture.
Leading today’s encounter Mapeza said their 2-1 victory over Bosso in their last meeting was now history and they were now focused on today’s clash.
“We are happy with our preparations. We have no injury worries and we can’t talk of the weather as the whole country is experiencing some hot spells at the moment. Our guys are raring to go. The first time I came here I lost to Highlanders in the league but this season we drew with them at home and then beat them away in Bulawayo. I think they do well when they are playing at Mandava. We are going to try and get a positive result so that we go through to the next round,” said Mapeza.
However, if the truth is to be told, Mapeza’s priorities appear to be the remaining Castle Lager Premier Soccer League matches.
But the putting “all eggs in one basket mindset” might prove a wrong idea for Mapeza as “concentrating one’s prospects or resources in one thing or place” might see one losing “everything.’’
The other PSL title contenders are Chicken Inn, and rank outsiders Dynamos. At Mandava, a lot will hinge on how the Highlanders technical department deploys its troops. There is talent at Highlanders, but what have been evident are poor choices for the starting line-ups.
However, although current coach Amin Soma-Phiri and his predecessors always boasted of youth and experience, the biggest letdown has always been how they deploy personnel. Highlanders might throw in Obadiah Tarumbwa, Knox Mutizwa, and Ralph Matema, in what might be a three man attack. At the other end, Zambian striker Obrey Chirwa, Tatenda Dzumbunu and one of the country’s best dribblers Marshall Mudehwe, will try and expose the jittery Highlanders defence.
