Bosso’s season might end tomorrow

GROWING discontent is brewing within the ranks of Highlanders Football Club as the team’s disappointing performance in the league casts a shadow over head coach Kelvin Kaindu’s position.

The pressure is mounting as Bosso faces a do-or-die situation in their Chibuku Super Cup quarter-final match against Simba Bhora at Wadzanayi Stadium on Sunday. A defeat could effectively end their season.

Bosso are 15 points behind log leaders Simba Bhora with eight games remaining in the season, meaning their only realistic chance at silverware is the Chibuku Super Cup.

The club executive has already made their feelings known to Kaindu and his technical team over the team’s recent poor results at a meeting held earlier in the week. The leadership is not happy, and neither are the fans.

Some of the questionable decisions made by the Zambian gaffer include the rotation of the captaincy duties within the team, a move that seems to have created a leadership vacuum on the field. The armband was stripped off Vice-captain Peter Muduhwa after pictures of him enjoying a beverage at a local leisure spot circulated on social media.

Reliable defender Andrew Mbeba also spent some time on the sidelines due to a disciplinary suspension over an unspecified issue which Kaindu and the club have chosen not to share with the public.

Despite the in-house issues, Kaindu has been frustrated by the constant flow of injuries and suspensions, meaning he has been unable to field what he sees as his best team all season. Kaindu is under increasing pressure following back-to-back league defeats and now seeks to make amends in the Chibuku Super Cup.

The team threw away a 2-0 lead to lose 3-2 to CAPS United at Rufaro Stadium last Sunday, slipping to fifth place on the league table with eight games remaining in the season. Before the CAPS United defeat, Bosso had lost 1-2 to Herentals in another league game at Barbourfields Stadium.

The Chibuku Super Cup presents an opportunity for Kaindu and his technical team to re-endear themselves to the Bosso faithful. Kaindu has remained unruffled despite the growing speculation about his job.

“Looking at the points’ difference (15 points) with the team that is on top, it makes it very difficult, but football being football, we still hope, but our biggest hope now is to focus on the Chibuku.

“Our last game was probably our most painful loss given we were leading 2-0. But when football has passed we have to focus on the next game. What is important is to bring back the confidence in everyone. These are the same guys that have made the fans remain singing after the match has ended.

So our job is to focus on what we are doing. Win or lose, we focus on the next game that is coming,” said Kaindu. Kaindu will not have it easy against Simba Bhora, who are yet to lose in 13 games in all competitions at their home ground. Kaindu knows his charges should punch way above their weight to get something from this game. Highlanders lost 2-1 at the venue in a league game played in July.

Simba Bhora owner Simba Ndoro already has a video doing the rounds online, visibly confident of his team’s victory over Bosso.

“We feel pity for Highlanders. We respect them. When you talk of Zimbabwean football, you speak of Highlanders and Dynamos, but we feel pity for them because when you come to Shamva, we take no excuses,” said Ndoro.

Ambitious Simba Bhora made over 10 new signings ahead of the 2024 Castle Lager Premier Soccer League season with the intention of grabbing silverware at the end of this season. The Shamva-based side brought in 2022 Soccer Star of the Year Walter Musona, goalkeeper Talbert Shumba, Billy Veremu, Junior Makunike, and Taimon Mvula, who were with Dynamos last season, as well as Perfect Chikwende, Ghanaian Wilson Mensah who was at Triangle, Eastern Region Soccer League top goal scorer Harrison Masina who was with FC Hunters, and Gift Saunyama who was with Black Rhinos.

In other matches, Ngezi Platinum will play host to CAPS United at Baobab Stadium, while Manica Diamonds face FC Platinum at Sakubva Stadium this afternoon.

Fixtures:
Saturday:
Ngezi Platinum v CAPS United (Baobab), Manica Diamonds v FC Platinum (Sakubva Stadium)

Sunday:
Simba Bhora vs Highlanders (Wadzanayi Stadium)
Dynamos v Yadah (postponed)
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