Online Reporter
Ray Bande in Mutare and Onward Gangata in Gweru
IN the end, a dejected Manica Diamonds coach Jairos Tapera cut a lone figure as he walked off the pitch without shaking hands with his opposite number Kelvin Kaindu.
He also couldn’t grant journalists post-match interviews after agonisingly watching his team fall to a determined Highlanders who got their winner via Mafios Chihweta’s 62nd-minute goal at Sakubva in Mutare yesterday.
For Bosso, this was a big statement, a big away win, huge three points on the road and a sign that they are not done yet.
Bosso could have simply won this encounter by a wide margin only if they had made the most of the numerous scoring chances they created, especially in the first half.
A relieved Kaindu acknowledged that.
“If you look at the matches that we played in the recent past, we were playing good football but failing to score goals. We dominated most of the encounters that we played in the past five outings, just like we did here, but somehow in those recent league matches we just could not win.
“However, I am happy with the three points that we got here. It was not easy at all. We deserved them and we will go forward with confidence,” said Kaindu.
But it doesn’t look too good for his opposite.
Perhaps Tapera’s unsporting behaviour was a true reflection of the frustration fast creeping into the Manica Diamonds’ camp after their fans mobbed the club’s secretary-general Sugar Chagonda and chairman Masimba Chihowa’s vehicles as they made their way out of the match venue, demanding the ouster of what they termed a “clueless Tapera.” Highlanders approached this match with a lot of pressure too. Kaindu’s charges were first off the blocks and were almost rewarded for their attacking prowess in the eighth minute when Manica Diamonds goalkeeper Tedious Baye was forced to summon his reflexes to block midfielder McKinnon Mushore’s fine header.
In fact, Highlanders were literally camped in Manica Diamonds’ half for the greater part of the first half but their dominance in possession failed to translate into goals as their players took turns to miss the target.
Manica Diamonds had their moments in the second half, but as is now the norm, their strikers fired blanks.
Highlanders came into the match against Manica Diamonds win-less in five consecutive PSL matches, pick-ing up just a paltry two points from a possible 15, no wonder yesterday’s triumph was a huge relief for them.
Their last victory was in May when they dismissed Yadah Stars 2-0 at The Heart Stadium in Harare.
Going into the game, Bosso had suffered a 2-3 defeat at the hands of Simba Bhora and they had also settled for a goalless stalemate against Dynamos.
They went down by a solitary goal against Herentals College and also lost 1-2 to ZPC Kariba.
Kaindu’s men also salvaged a point after a 1-1 stalemate against former champions FC Platinum.
Manica Diamonds are no better.
They have been on a win-less streak, triggered by a humiliating 1-4 defeat to Simba Bhora.
Navaya strikes to save TelOne
As he has done on numerous occasions this season, Washington Navaya was the saviour for TelOne, scoring a last-minute equaliser to rescue a point in a 1-1 draw against ZPC Kariba at Ascot yesterday.
His goal deep into time added on, cancelled Stanley Ngala’s 64th-minute goal for the visitors.
The point gained put TelOne’s points tally to 25 and they remain fourth on the log standings.
And after the match, TelOne coach, Hebert Maruwa felt it was a point gained as he knew that ZPC Kariba would be a difficult opponent.
“I have been preaching to the boys throughout the week that ZPC Kariba would be a tough one, they were coming from a heavy defeat so obviously, they would want to recover quickly. “They defended in blocks and wanted to hit us on the counter but I am happy we fought as a team, it is a point gained,” said Maruwa. ZPC Kariba Newton Chitewe was happy to take a point away from home.
“I think we should have taken three points, but you know what happens in football, if you lose concentration, you are punished,” Chitewe said.
“But coming from a heavy defeat, getting a point away from home, is an advantage for us, I’m happy that we rose from the disappointment of last week.”
