Bosso down but not out says Kaindu

The Harare giants won the game 2-1 to set one hand on the trophy which has a huge purse of $100 000.

The losers will get $70 000.

The country’s giants are clashing for the first time in the competition meant to celebrate President Mugabe’s birthday.

He turns 89 on 21 February.

In a fortnight’s time, DeMbare will play host to Bosso in the final set for Rufaro Stadium.

On Sunday, both teams scored beautiful goals with Dynamos’ captain Tawanda Muparati drawing first blood with a left grounder from the edge of the box on the half-hour mark before Patrick Khumbula made it two for the league champions three minutes later.

Beavan Chikaka’s diving header off a Bruce Kangwa cross in the 35th minute beat Dynamos’ goalkeeper George Chigova.

The competition organisers might have also contributed to the cause of the mayhem after the match as they sold alcohol in the stadium throughout the game.

At some stages, fans threw beer cans into the field protesting a referee’s decision with one notable incident happening towards the end of the match when the match official Mlindeli Ndebele cautioned Chigova for time wasting but the DeMbare fans were not amused.

The giant Dynamos goalkeeper had to flee from his goal area to avoid being hit by missiles.

When Ndebele blew the final whistle, some mischievous fans from both Highlanders and Dynamos are said to have engaged in fighting outside the stadium but police quickly intervened to save the situation.

There were damning reports on some social networks claiming that some fans died in the after match skirmishes but police quashed the rumours.

In an interview with Chronicle Sport yesterday, the Bulawayo Provincial police spokesman Inspector Mandlenkosi Moyo said there was only one casualty and they arrested some people for criminal nuisance.

“Nine people were arrested for criminal nuisance on Sunday after the match as police moved in to quell flaring tempers. One car had its windscreen smashed and a 12-year-old boy was hit with a stone and taken to Mpilo Central Hospital. The boy who was unfortunately caught in the crossfire is reportedly in a stable condition. We want to warn members of the public not to engage in violence if their team loses. They must refrain from such tendencies as that is not good for football,” Insp Moyo said.

It is the home team’s prerogative to provide security.

At international competitions like the World Cup or Africa Cup of Nations, alcohol is sold in stadia as part of fundraising but in Zimbabwe beer is not allowed in soccer stadia.

Repeated efforts to get comment from the Premier Soccer League who are the custodians of the game and tournament organisers to find out why beer was sold at the stadium were fruitless.

Peter Dube, the Highlanders chairman said they were not responsible for the sale of alcoholic beverages.

Meanwhile, Highlanders’ coach Kelvin Kaindu is confident that his charges can overturn the scoreline when the two teams clash in the final in two weeks’ time.

“I am always positive and I have confidence in my players. We might be 2-1 down but we are definitely not out. It is possible to overturn the scoreline and we are going to work hard and ensure that we win in Harare,” said Kaindu.

Lawson Nkomo, who had a horrific show when Bosso played host to Mamelodi Sundowns a fortnight ago, put up an improved performance with Peter “Rio” Moyo enjoying himself in the midfield for Highlanders.

Masimba Mambare was kept under lock and key for the better part of the afternoon by Muparati and Ocean Mashure but Dynamos were always playing second fiddle to Bosso for the better part of the game.

Mthulisi Maphosa, Bhekimpilo Ncube, Peter and Mambare formed Highlanders’ attack while DeMbare coach Callisto Pasuwa opted to have two defensive midfielders — Stephen Alimenda and Gift Bello.

Dynamos defenders Patson Jaure and Thomas Magorimbo did well to keep Bosso strikers Chikaka and Graham Ncube at bay.

Kaindu said the club did not have money to buy strikers. “Yes we have problems with strikers and to be honest the club does not have money to buy a striker. What this means is that we use the strikers we have. As a coach my job is to produce strikers who will score for the team,” said Kaindu.