Online Reporter
Robson Sharuko
Metros Editor
ON Sunday, the clock marked exactly ONE year since Highlanders fans celebrated a win, against any of the clubs who are current members of the Castle Lager Premiership, at Barbourfields.
That victory was a 1-0 win over CAPS United on April 13, last year.
Since then, Bosso are yet to win a league game, at home, in a period stretching for twelve months, against any of the clubs who are current members of the domestic Premiership.
Highlanders have tried FOUR coaches — Kelvin Kaindu, Try Ncube, Pieter De Jongh and Benjani Mwaruwari — but none of them have managed to find a formula to help Bosso win at home in a league match against any of the current members of the PSL, in a dozen months.
The club’s only two victories in the league, during that period, came against Bikita Minerals and Green Fuel, who were relegated at the end of last season.
Bosso have played 15 league matches, against current members of the PSL, during that period, and have failed to win even one match at Barbourfields.
Eleven of the games ended in draws while they lost four matches against Herentals, Simba Bhora, MWOS and TelOne.
During that period, Bosso have only scored eight goals at home, in twelve months, against current members of the PSL, while they have conceded thirteen goals. Only once did Highlanders manage to score more than one goal, in a match against current members of the PSL at home, in the past twelve months.
That came in the 2-3 defeat to Simba Bhora at Barbourfields. They have collected just 11 points, out of a possible 45 points, during that miserable run.
Bosso are WINLESS in the league in EIGHT MONTHS. Their last win in the league came on August 24 last year when they beat Bikita Minerals 2-1 away from home.
Bosso are WINLESS in the league at Barbourfields for NINE MONTHS.
Their last win in the league at Barbourfields came against GreenFuel on July 13, last year.
They have drawn their last 13 league matches and, if once includes the Chibuku Super Cup matches, Bosso have drawn their last 15 matches.
When they drew against ZPC Kariba at Barbourfields on Sunday, it brought a remarkable sequence of Bosso draws, which started against the same opponents, at the same venue SEVEN months ago, full circle. On September 28, last year, Bosso and ZPC Kariba battled out to a 1-1 draw at Barbourfields.
Since then, Bosso are yet to win a match, in 90 minutes, either in the league or cup.
They have now drawn all their seven league matches this season. The Bulawayo giants closed their season last year with SIX straight draws and the 13 draws, spread across two seasons, mean that Bosso have picked just 13 points from a possible 39 points during that miserable run. If you want a brighter side, you can argue that Highlanders are unbeaten in a league match in the past 13 games, spread over SIX MONTHS.
Normally, a run without a loss in a period which is equivalent to half a year in the league, represents a good score card. The problem with Bosso is that they have not won a game during that period and draws, in the context of the league championship race, come at a huge cost as two points will be dropped every time a game ends in a draw. Benjani will probably point at his defence, which has not conceded a goal in the last five league games, as proof that there is some progress to his project.
But, others will argue that the fact that they have also not scored a goal, during that run of games, is a reflection of the challenges which have burdened them during their nightmarish run of draws, stretching back from last year.
MATCHDAY 8 FIXTURES
Saturday: Herentals v FC Hunters (Rufaro)
Sunday: Agama v Simba Bhora (Wadzanai), Caps United v TelOne (Rufaro), FC Platinum v MWOS (Mandava), Hardrock v Ngezi Platinum (Chahwanda), Triangle v Manica Diamonds (Gibbo)
Wednesday: Chicken Inn v Highlanders (B/F), Scottland v Dynamos (Rufaro), ZPC Kariba v Bulawayo Chiefs (Nyamhunga)
Mathew Masinge