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Ncube scored in the 39th minute with a ferocious shot from inside the box after being intelligently set up by Peter Moyo leaving Quelaton’s stand in goalkeeper Freedom Magaba a mere spectator on a day the black and white army went on a rampage and ruthlessly pummelled their struggling neighbours 7-1.
The last time Highlanders won by such a huge margin was in 1998 against neighbours Zimbabwe Saints and they went on to claim the first of their record breaking four titles.
“Floodgates have been opened and I am sure that more goals will start coming. I can promise you that,” said the 2010 Soccer Star of the Year finalist who also had stints with Hwange and Dynamos.
On Sunday, Ncube, who was dogged by injuries, had a slow start to the game that saw him missing from inside the box when face to face with Magaba. The no-nonsense fans immediately called for his substitution by whistling especially from the militant Soweto stand.
Coach Kelvin Kaindu, probably noting the demoralising effect the booing would have on Ncube, called him to the touchline and appeared to reassure him of his total and unwavering support, something which the Zambian should be commended for.
“We get into the field to win and no sane person can miss deliberately and when I do miss it will certainly be by mistake,” said Ncube. After the miss, the lanky midfielder could be seen cursing himself in disappointment.
The other six Bosso goals came from Milton Ncube who scored a brace and his ninth goal. Another brace came from Ozias Zibande while wing master Masimba Mambare and goalkeeper Ariel Sibanda, who struck from the spot, weighed in with a goal apiece.
Zibande’s goal was just but a marvel with Highlanders’ life member Paul Mabhanga saying it was sad that the goal was one of many as it was worthy of winning any match.
“It’s top drawer stuff fit for veteran players. I believe a national star has been unleashed onto our football industry,” said Mabhanga.
Sibanda decided to take issues into his own hands after Ncube had missed an earlier penalty to score with a beautifully taken penalty.
Magaba scored Quelaton’s face saver off another spot kick in an afternoon that had three penalty kicks awarded by referee Bekezela Makeka who had a firm grip on the match.
The visitors should thank Bosso skipper Innocent Mapuranga who needlessly brought down fellow veteran, Chipo Tsodzo inside the box.
Highlanders’ win was a morale booster ahead of the second edition of The Battle of the Cities against troubled Caps United at Rufaro Stadium over the weekend.
Makepekepe, 3-2 losers to Hwange on Sunday, immediately fired their technical team of Sean Connor, Lloyd Chitembwe and Joel Luphahla. The management did not even wait for the team to arrive in Harare and as they passed through Bulawayo on Sunday night, they had no idea that they were now jobless.
After a six-match winning streak, Caps lost to Highlanders, Hwange and Dynamos and when such results are registered, surely heads are likely to roll and they did.
The management led by Twine Phiri and Farai Jere should also take the blame after they hired the Irishman who had a record of losing 23 matches on the trot in his homeland before being fired.
Fired Monomotapa coach Taurai Mangwiro is the interim boss and he has the enviable task of stopping a rampaging Tshilamoya. Not many coaches in the land would look forward to a debut against the Kaindu army.
On Saturday, champions Dynamos registered their ninth win of the season at the expense of FC Platinum and in the process moved to third place on the standings, two points behind second place surprise kids, Shabanie Mine and six points off Bosso’s tally.
DeMbare stunned The Moneybags 2-1 after Tendai Chikuni and crew made a rather strange decision of benching 2010 Soccer Star of the Year Charles Sibanda and midfield marvel Joel “Josta” Ngodzo.
The move backfired terribly and his credentials to lead the platinum miners to glory will now be under the scrutiny of the Tadson Zhou-led executive.
Besides the $1 000 winning bonuses promised to the team, the boys once again failed to break the Dynamos jinx and now find themselves on position seven and 11 points behind Bosso.
With DeMbare on the rise, FC Platinum’s championship hopes are now more of an illusion than anything else and a loss to the Harare side on Sunday will all but confirm that.
At Luveve Stadium, Adam “Adamski” Ndlovu’s Chicken Inn beat visiting Harare City 1-0 to maintain fourth place on 29 points while City are 10th with 19 points and are not safe from relegation together with seven other sides.
Online Reporter