Vusumuzi Dube
Fungai Muderere, Senior sports Reporter
WITH Highlanders FC fans having watched their goalkeeper and captain Ariel “Mangoye” Sibanda produce 12 clean sheets in 16 Premier Soccer League matches, Bosso head coach Blatermar Brito is refusing to read much into the development.
Sibanda (33) has been in good form in between the sticks for Bosso and this afternoon he will lead the club’s ship for their 17th game of the season when they play against Ngezi Platinum Stars at Baobab Stadium in Mhondoro with the hope of snatching his 13th clean sheet of the season.
“Football is a collective effort. Yes, he (Ariel) is doing well but I think it’s all because of the two young goalkeepers (Reward Muza and Raphael Pitisi) who are giving him competition. Ariel knows if he doesn’t work hard he will come out of the starting team. We don’t split good performances into departments because it’s all about team work. We do appreciate individual performances but Ariel performs for the benefit of the team. We appreciate that he has done good for this club,” said Brito about the former national team goalkeeper who has had a massive 14 years of service in the black and white camp.
Sibanda commands a Bosso backline that has only been breached four times. With young leftback Archord Faira, vice-captain Peter Muduhwa, Mbongeni “Mbola” Ndlovu and Andrew Mbeba on top of their game this season it remains to be seen if Sibanda, who is endowed with great goalkeeping skills, will this afternoon pick the ball from the back of the net.
Interestingly, Mangoye’s understudy Pitisi is pleased with the former’s work ethic and commitment.
“I’m happy with what Ariel has done so far. As second and third choice goalkeepers with Reward Muza, we can only say Ariel’s work is pleasing. It has been fascinating from the day I joined Highlanders. We are focusing on our job and I will personally try to do my best for the club,” said Pitisi.
Sibanda has previously declared his love for Highlanders, both on and off the pitch, which could be a significant boost to Bosso and their hopes of ending a 17-year-old championship trophy drought.
Bosso last clinched the league trophy in 2006 under the guidance of Methembe Ndlovu with then dreadlocked Gilbert “Gidza” Banda captaining the side.
With Sibanda having had a massive 14 years of service in the black and white camp, clinching the country’s topflight league top gong might be the ideal development to put icing on the cake on his marvellous football career.
Sibanda has worn no other jersey except the Highlanders strip and has kissed no other club badge except the famous “Siyinqaba” inscribed shield and spear logo.
Sibanda has been named as Soccer Star of the Year finalist three times.
He had an epic 2018 season, keeping 16 clean sheets from 28 league games he played for the Bulawayo football giants.
The following season, he came close to breaking his own record, producing 14 clean sheets in the process making four penalty saves.
He has failed to convert from 12 yards on two occasions and that was in 2015 and in the 2021/2022 season.
In 2015, Sibanda had his effort saved by Tafadzwa Dube, then with Harare City, at Barbourfields Stadium. In the past season he had his penalty kick saved during their match against ex-Premiership side Whawha.
It is Mangoye’s consistency in Bosso colours that has kept his admirers talking good about him. -@FungaiMuderere
Online Reporter