Online Reporter
Innocent Kurira at Barbourfields Stadium
Highlanders 1-0 Bikita Minerals
IT took one slick moment from Brighton Ncube to separate Highlanders and Bikita Minerals on a subdued afternoon at Barbourfields Stadium, as Bosso edged out a 1–0 victory to preserve their unbeaten home record.
Ncube’s goal, struck from inside the box in the 19th minute, looked routine at first glance. But the ball skidded low and awkwardly across the turf, forcing Bikita Minerals goalkeeper Tenera Taona into a full-stretch save he couldn’t quite keep out. That solitary strike proved decisive in a contest where both sides often lacked imagination in the final third.
“What is important was to get three points, although it was a very difficult game,” admitted Highlanders coach Kelvin Kaindu, whose side failed to beat Bikita home or away last season.
“Today we looked good in the final third, although we were let down by the way we defended. We made a lot of mistakes with our two central defenders, but what is good at the end of the day is picking up maximum points.”
The points may have come, but the performance will not rank among Bosso’s most convincing. With Melikha-ya Ncube and Mason Mushore both suspended, Kaindu reshuffled his system to a 4-1-3-2 formation, deploying Darlington Mukuli as the midfield anchor behind Marvin Sibanda, McKinnon Mushore, and Never Rauzhi. Brighton Ncube was paired with Reason Sibanda up front, while Mukuli captained the side in the absence of senior figures Melikhaya Ncube and Andrew Mbeba.
The match began with early promise.
Inside the opening minute, Malvin Hativagoni burst down the right flank and whipped in a superb cross, but Sibanda, unmarked, failed to connect. It was an early let-off for the visitors, who responded soon after when Jerry Ruzive forced a fingertip save from Bosso goalkeeper Reward Muza with a clever intervention from what had appeared to be a harmless ball.
But if the first half showed flickers of attacking purpose, the second descended into a drab affair. Players on both sides looked tired and technically uncertain, and for long stretches, the match drifted without rhythm or spark.
One bright spot for Bosso was young winger Mafious Chihweta.
A recent signing from Ajax Hotspurs, who were relegated from the ZIFA Southern Region Division One League last season, Chihweta impressed with his close ball control and fearless dribbling, drawing applause from the home support.
“We made a substitute, brought in a young, exciting player, and that is what the supporters are looking for.
“He changed the game. He was good with the ball, and I’m also impressed with the work rate our two strikers are showing. It’s showing that they can play as twin strikers; they are pushing,” said Kaindu.
Still, the visitors might feel aggrieved not to have taken something from the game.
After falling behind, Bikita Minerals took control for much of the remainder, probing the Highlanders’ defence with growing urgency. But their final product repeatedly let them down.
Highlanders had a chance to kill the game off in the 61st minute when Hativagoni floated in a dangerous ball for Sibanda, who again found himself free in the box but headed wide when it seemed easier to score.
