Online Reporter
Innocent Kurira at Barbourfields, Bulawayo
Highlanders . . . . (0) 1
Ngezi Platinum . . (1) 1
IF ever there was a match to remind Highlanders of the enduring bond between the team and supporters, this was it.
On an afternoon when they often failed to make an impression, it was the Bosso faithful, their famed 12th man who roared them back into the contest, spurring them to a hard-earned draw against a disciplined Ngezi Platinum Stars side.
Highlanders, under interim coach Try Ncube, had laboured for long spells, trailing to a 25th-minute opener by Tinashe Mavhudzi that owed everything to a calamitous defensive blunder.
But just as frustration threatened to curdle into despair, Reason Sibanda rose above Ngezi Platinum defenders and headed home in the 79th minute, a goal that salvaged a point.
The result still leave Bosso mid-tablers with 29 points from 24 games while Ngezi Platinum are on position five with 39 points, eight points behind log leaders Simba Bhora who are on 47 points. Ncube was grateful to the fans who helped him salvage something out of the game.
“Once again we thank the supporters. They came in their numbers and pushed the boys to play with confidence and eventually getting the well-deserved equalizer,” he said.
“It was a good game. I think we played better than the last game. We conceded from a mistake, but we are happy with the fight back from the boys.
“The players showed good spirit. We just have to limit the number of mistakes that we make. This is a game where we seemed to be fluffing our chances,” said Ncube.
Arthur Ndlovu, attempting a routine clearance, instead gifted possession to Gomezagni Chirwa, who fed Mavhudzi, who needed no second invitation to slide home past a stranded Reward Muza.
Highlanders had threatened earlier through Never Rauzhi and Malvern Hativagoni, whose long-range efforts were comfortably dealt with by the superb Darlington Murasiranwa, who was a standout in goal for the visitors.
Mason Mushore came agonisingly close with a glancing header midway through the first half, and Melikhaya Ncube struck the woodwork shortly before the break.
Still, it was all gloomy until the introduction of substitutes— most notably Tendai Muvuti, whose teasing cross from the right finally unlocked the Ngezi defence. Sibanda timed his run perfectly to power his header in at the near post, and Barbourfields erupted.
Even then, Bosso had chances to win it. Murasiranwa, inspired and alert throughout, denied Mushore yet again from close range and saw Hativagoni hit the woodwork a second time as Highlanders poured forward in search of a winner.
Ngezi coach Takesure Chiragwi saw the result differently.
“This was a point gained. I applaud my players they resisted pressure and worked hard. Highlanders are always tough at home with their fans. But we matched them and we move forward with this result.”
It may have been two points dropped for Bosso, but it didn’t feel like defeat.
In the stands, the fans chanted long after the final whistle. This was a day they made a difference, a reminder that when all else falters, the soul of Highlanders still sings from the terraces.
Teams:
Highlanders: Reward Muza (gk), Arthur Ndlovu, Melikhaya Ncube, Prince Ndlovu (Reason Sibanda, 46 mins), Malvern Hativagoni (Brian Mlotshwa, 83 mins), Brighton Ncube, Mason Mushore, Never Rauzhi, Archford Faira, Panashe Mushonga (Tendai Muvuti, 71 mins), Luckmore Mutumbi
Ngezi Platinum: Darlington Murasiranwa (gk), Gomezagni Chirwa, Kudzai Chigwida, Farai Madhanaga, Nyasha Gurende, Leslie Kashitigu, Brooklyn Katumba, Adam Ngwenya (Marvelous Mukumba, 46 mins), Talent Chamboko (Qadr Amin, 88 mins), McDonald Makuwe, Tinashe Mavhudzi (Nisbert Muzend
