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Sikhumbuzo Moyo Senior Sports Reporter
HIGHLANDERS Football Club’s assistant coach Bekithemba Ndlovu’s technical shortcomings were crudely exposed by a more superior Harare City who pummelled the Bulawayo giants 4-0 at Rufaro Stadium on Sunday.
The result propelled the Bigboy Mawiwi coached Harare outfit to the top of the log with a single game to wrap up the season while Bosso slipped down the ladder from the top to position three, tied with Dynamos on 51 points.
It is the way Highlanders crumbled against their opponents on Sunday that left a majority at the stadium convinced that stand-in coach Ndlovu was technically outsmarted by Mawiwi and perhaps might not be ready to take charge of the team even if head coach Kelvin Kaindu was to have his contract terminated by the club when it expires next month.
Kaindu is away in the United Kingdom for a Uefa B coaching licence.
His classes will continue up to May next year, raising fears among the club faithfuls that the team is being shortchanged.
The Bosso coach travels regularly back home when there is a short break in his studies but many feel he should devote his energies to the team.
The executive must also take the flak as they should have sought the services of an experienced coach to assist Ndlovu for such a crucial game. There are many experienced coaches with a Highlanders background who could have been asked to travel with the team and even offer technical expertise during halftime.
Highlanders chairman Peter Dube diplomatically defended their decision not to bring in an outsider during Sunday’s humiliation of his team.
“We are well aware of all that but being Highlanders, what would the people be saying had we brought in an outsider and still went on to lose? There could be an uprising here so sometimes you have to stand up and take decisions that are first and foremost in the interest of the club,” said Dube.
He said last year, after a good run in the league, the team was embarrassingly hammered 0-3 by Monomotapa which completely derailed their title charge and this year it has happened again.
That result against Monomotapa exposed even Kaindu as he lost to the same team in the Mbada Diamonds Cup ending the season empty handed despite going 23 matches unbeaten. On whether the club would still let Kaindu travel as he pleases next year, Dube said appropriate decisions would be made at the right time.
The executive has come in for criticism on social networks with supporters querying why the Zambian was allowed to go to the UK at such a crucial moment while some commentators came to his defence saying self-development came first.
Indications are that the executive will make a serious decision on the coaching department whether the team wins or loses the championship.
“At the moment we really have a lot to fight for, we look at situations as and when demand arises. Saying a lot of things that may derail and eventually work against our cause may not be the best way to go,” said the Highlanders supremo.
Ndlovu was roped in as an understudy to the Zambian last season with the hope of taking over one day but the 0-4 mauling showed that he might need a bit of time or might not even be cut out for the job.
On Sunday, Highlanders attacked from the onset using their wing back Bruce Kangwa who was on the left side. Simon Munawa was on the right with Eric Mudzingwa and the ageing Innocent Mapuranga completing the back four line up.
Whenever Kangwa overlapped on the offensive, Highlanders did not pivot to close his gap. Mawiwi realised the glaring mistake and every time Kangwa or Munawa lost possession upfront, his players would play the ball to the empty pocket left vacant and on the few occasions that Mapuranga covered that space, Harare City would still send the ball exactly there knowing fully well Mapuranga’s lack of speed.
Highlanders failed to read that anomaly and change their game plan by advising Kangwa to stick to his defensive duties so as to cover up for Mapuranga because in any event a simple draw for Highlanders would have kept them well on course to lifting the title this weekend.
It was also clear that Ndlovu was just following what his boss Kaindu might have told him but surely when Plan A fails, there is a need to try what might prevail on the day, by going to Plan B or even Plan C. There also was a time when Mapuranga ventured forward in attack and that meant the anchorman Hillary Madzivanyika was supposed to fall back and cover up in central defence but it never happened and the coaches failed to read it either.
All the goals for Harare City came from the wings, either as crosses or sheer individual brilliance on their attackers part especially the fourth goal which was also passed to the left side before Silas Songani made a mockery of Mapuranga.
Highlanders are still in the running for a league and cup double although the league title is really no longer in their hands.
Caps United and police outfit Black Mambas hold the keys to the Bulawayo giants winning the $70 000 first prize cheque on Sunday.
What teams will be fighting for this weekend.
Winners: $70 000
Runners-up: $50 000
Third place:$30 000
Fourth place: $26 000
Fifth place: $24 000
Sixth place: $20 000
Seventh place:$18 000
Eighth place: $15 000
Ninth place: $14 000
10th place: $12 000
11th place: $10 000
12th place: $7 000
13th – 16th place: $5 000
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