admin
Ricky Zililo Senior Sports Reporter
COULD Highlanders FC 2-1 win against How Mine on Sunday – Kelvin Kaindu’s second league derby victory – mark the beginning of better things to come?
Is it the tonic that Bosso needs to win the league title which will be Kaindu’s first at the club both as a player and coach?
Sunday’s encounter with How Mine was Kaindu’s 10th derby since joining the Bulawayo giants at the beginning of 2012 and the gaffer has every reason to look forward to a better season after losing the championship to Dynamos twice due to an inferior goal difference.
Highlanders’ failure to win the championship in the last two seasons has been blamed on the team’s failure to beat city rivals.
In his first year at Highlanders, Kaindu led the team to four derbies, drawing three, twice against Chicken Inn and once with Quelaton. Their only victory was a 7-1 win over Quelaton who were relegated from the topflight at the end of that season. The statistics show that Highlanders lost six points from a possible 12 that season.
Last season Highlanders lost three of the four derbies 1-2 to How Mine in the first leg and 0-1 in the reverse fixture. They were also beaten 1-0 by Chicken Inn before playing to a goalless draw in the return leg.
However, this time around Highlanders seem to have done their homework managing to put some inspiring performances against Chicken Inn and lately How Mine.
With a bit of luck, Bosso should have beaten Chicken Inn but their goalkeeper Munyaradzi Diya’s slip in injury time cost the Bulawayo giants maximum points on May Day against Chicken Inn as George Majika found the equaliser for the Gamecocks.
Bosso had looked set for their first victory over Chicken Inn but with just under a minute remaining, Diya came out of the goalline in a bid to clear the ball to safety but was let down with his second touch as he slid and gave away possession to Majika who cancelled a spectacular strike by Ozias Zibande.
On Sunday, there was no room for error with Highlanders’ goalkeeper Ariel Sibanda proving his worth as he made three stunning saves that made the difference for Bosso.
Inspired by Joel Ngodzo whose confidence is getting better with each game, industrious Charles Sibanda who is their top goal scorer with seven under his name and captain Innocent Mapuranga covering the ground for the jittery duo of Dumisani Ndlovu and Simon Munawa, Highlanders were able to collect maximum points.
Bosso got their goals from Gabriel Nyoni and Munawa while Edmore “Digo” Muzanenhamo scored the consolation for How Mine.
The miners with a bit of luck could have upset Highlanders but Sibanda denied veteran Menard Mupera twice and Xolisani Moyo one-on-one scoring opportunities from close range.
The next three weeks are likely to be taxing for Bosso as they will play Bantu Rovers back-to-back before taking on How Mine in the reverse fixture.
“In the past it was difficult to get maximum points in derbies but I am happy that we have managed to break the ice and done so against How Mine. We are going to continue working hard to make sure that we get positive results in the derbies,” said Kaindu on Sunday.
Highlanders are just a point above of defending champions Dynamos and Caps United who are tied on 26 points.
Just like Bosso, the two Harare giants won with identical 2-1 margins against their respective opponents with Dynamos getting the better of Black Rhinos while Makepekepe beat Chicken Inn. The win has boosted their morale ahead of their weekend Harare derby.
With all the country’s three giants Highlanders, DeMbare and Caps United matching on, certainly the margin for error is very limited for these outfits as they are aware that any slip up will cost them in the championship marathon.
Caps United, Dynamos, ZPC Kariba, Harare City and Buffaloes won their Week 14 matches without their head coaches who are attending a high-level Caf A License coaching clinic in Harare.
KAINDU’S DERBIES FACTFILE
P W D L F A Pts
10 2 5 3 13 8 11
2012: (June 10) Highlanders 0-0 Chicken Inn, (July 15) Quelaton 1-1 Highlanders, (August 5) Highlanders 7-1 Quelaton, (September 9) Chicken Inn 0-0 Highlanders
2013: (May 19) Highlanders 1-2 How Mine, (June 19) Highlanders 0-1 Chicken Inn, (July 14) Chicken Inn 1-1 Highlanders, (September 9) How Mine 1-0 Highlanders
2014: (May 1) Chicken Inn 1-1 Highlanders, (July 6) How Mine 1-2 Highlanders, PENDING Highlanders v Bantu Rovers, Bantu Rovers v Highlanders, Highlanders v How Mine, Highlanders v Chicken Inn
Results
Thursday: Hwange 0-2 ZPC Kariba
Saturday: Chicken Inn 1-2 Caps United; Chiredzi 1-2 Harare City; Chapungu 0-0 FC Platinum
Sunday: How Mine 1-2 Highlanders; Shabanie Mine 1-2 Buffaloes; Dynamos 2-1 Black Rhinos
Yesterday: Bantu Rovers 1- 1 Triangle United
Online Reporter