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Sports Reporter
Highlanders are top of the table 10 games into the Castle Lager Premier Soccer League season as they were after 10 matches last season.
And compared to this time last season, Bosso have one more point, won one more match, drew two less matches, scored more goals but have also conceded more goals, while also losing a match. In the “drawful” 2023 season, Highlanders often played in what always looked like an ultra-defensive shape under Portuguese coach Britto but have appeared more attack-oriented under Kelvin Kaindu this season — scoring more goals but shipping in more at the same time.
So, with a new coach at the helm, how much has changed after this technical change?
At the same point last season, Highlanders had only scored seven and conceded only two goals but were unbeaten after 10 matches. This term, Bosso have scored 15 goals but conceded seven while also losing a game and have had a worryingly indifferent form in the last five matches — winning only one while drawing three and losing one.
In that time, Highlanders have won five, drawn four and lost one match compared to winning only four of their first 10 matches last season while drawing six. With the 0-0 away draw at Arenel Movers, Highlanders shared the points, extending their unbeaten run to three matches and have kept a clean sheet in their last two games in the league but this run includes two draws either side of 2-0 win over Caps United.
Similarly, at this point last season, Bosso had won four of their first 10 matches in the Premiership and conceded an average of 0,70 goals per game since the beginning of the season in the league. Highlanders’ form statistics last season indicate an average number of goals conceded per game of 0,63 in the last 10 league matches, which is 10% lower than their current season’s average.
But how much improvement has there been from the 10-game mark of 2023 to this stage in 2024?
Last season, Highlanders were first on the log with 18 points, had scored seven goals and conceded two goals after winning four games and drawing six games with no loss. This season, they have 19 points, while still at the top of the table, with 15 goals scored and seven goals conceded while winning five games, drawing four games and losing one match.
Kaindu’s men have taken maximum points while at home at Barboufields so far and have scored 23 goals — an average of 2.3 goals per game — and conceded just nine. The statistics clearly show the difference between the two respective starts to the season.
“I think it’s really easy to fall in love with this team,” Highlanders’ super fan Themba ‘Mjocks’ Siziba recently said.
This week’s fixtures
Saturday
Greenfuel v ZPC Kariba (Greenful Arena), Yadah v Caps United (Rufaro), Byo Chiefs v Chicken Inn (Luveve), Simba Bhora v Ngezi Platinum (Wadzanayi)
Sunday
Manica Diamonds v Bikita Minerals (Sakubva), Highlanders v FC Platinum (Barbourfields), Hwange v Arenel Movers (Colliery), Dynamos v Herentals (Rufaro),TelOne v Chegutu Pirates (Bata)
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