Online Reporter
Brandon Moyo at Barbourfields Stadium
Highlanders 4-0 Kwekwe United
BRIGHTON Ncube scored the first hat-trick of the 2025 Castle Lager Premier Soccer League to help Highlanders win their first home game of the season, brushing aside the 10-men newbies.
Maninja completed his hat-trick in the 68th minute after converting his second penalty of the day, guiding Bosso to the highest margin victory of game-week two in the league.
Melikhaya Ncube was the first to put the black and white army in front as early as the second minute with a header before Brighton doubled the lead in the 15th minute from the penalty spot.
Brighton was brought down inside the box after a brilliant solo run. Up he stepped to take the responsibility and made no mistake from the spot, sending Kwekwe United’s goalkeeper, Elton Nechirwe the wrong way.
Brighton would complete his brace at the stroke of half time, placing home into the bottom right corner a McKinnon Mushore pass.
The striker would go on to put the icing on the cake just after the hour-mark as he calmly converted another spot kick to get his third of the game and assure Bosso of three points.
Reason Sibanda had been brought down in the box for the second penalty.
Highlanders dominated the game from the first whistle up to the last.
Kwekwe United were reduced to 10 men in the 26th minute with Bosso already leading two-nil.
Goalkeeper and captain Elton Nechirwe was given his matching orders for handling the ball outside the penalty area to deny Sibanda a goal scoring opportunity.
After a five minute delay, Bosso got a free-kick on the edge of the penalty area which Andrew Mbeba sent over the bar.
The visitors then made two changes with goalkeeper Lenon Gonese replacing Dennis Dauda while Simbarashe Musukutwa came in for Emmanuel Mutimbanyoka.
Bosso enjoyed most of the possession in the first half.
In the 47th minute, Prince Ndlovu attempted a curler from the edge of the box but shot went over the bar.
Bosso had a glorious opportunity of making it four in the 50th minute but Reason Sibanda failed to capitalise. McKinnon Mushore took a shot from outside the box which the Kwekwe United goalkeeper punched into Sibanda’s path but the Bosso forward sent it back into the keeper’s arms.
Towards the stroke of the hour mark, Brighton made a brilliant run into the box but his cross towards McKinnon Mushore was intercepted by Lennon Gonese.
Highlanders continued to dominate play and possession but couldn’t find the fifth goal.
At full-time, Kelvin Kaindu was the happiest of the two coaches.
Teams:
Highlanders:
Raphael Pitisi (gk), Talent Dube, Arthur Ndlovu, Brian Mlotshwa, McKinnon Mushore (Gillian Nyathi, 74mins),Melikhaya Ncube, Reason Sibanda (Nqobile Ndlovu, 82mins), Prince Ndlovu (Marvin Sibanda, 56mins),Brighton Ncube (Nigel Banda, 74mins), Andrew Mbeba, Mason Mushore (Darlington Munkuli, 82mins)
Kwekwe United:
Elton Nechirwe (gk), Andile Taruvinga, Leeroy Saungweme, Denis Dauda (Lenon Gonese, 31 mins), Saul Chaminuka, Emmanuel Mutimbanyoka (Simbarashe Musukutwa, 31mins), Muzenda Tafadzwa (Washington Ncube, 46mins), Hillary Bakacheza (Trevor Chikede, 54mins), Allen Gahadzikwa, Masimba Mambare, Agrippa Murimba (Timothy January, 46mins)
