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Nkosilathi Sibanda
Highlanders . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (0) 1
CAPS United . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (1) 1
HIGHLANDERS coach Baltemar Brito left Barbourfields lamenting what he rates the worst show of his career as they drew 1-1 with CAPS United in a Castle Lager Premier Soccer League match yesterday.
The attendance was low.
There were huge gaps in the Soweto and Empankweni terraces, where Bosso’s faithful occupy. In part, that was due to how Bosso have slumped in form in recent months.
Bosso have gone six games without a win, a sharp contrast to a 19 game unbeaten run in the first half of the season that made them contenders for the championship.
CAPS United were the first to blast the nets off the foot of seasoned Rodwell Chinyengetere in the 14th minute and pressure mounted on the home side.
Mason Mushore rescued the home side in the 58th minute as he made no mistake from outside the box to slot in a beauty.
Brito cited lack of confidence for his players’ failure to handle the match.
“I have never seen this. This is the first time in my life that I have to face such a circumstance. So many draws. If we assess the game, CAPS United, in the first half they had just one kick and made a goal.
“the second half we were better, created more and had many chances. Unfortunately we scored one goal. Such is football life.
“So, I take it as lack of attitude, because they boys, they fight and do their best at training sessions. But, lack of confidence is one of the areas we should address, one by one one each player.
“In general, we think this is to do much more with personality. In the second half, we had opportunities to win the game. We are sad about the draw, as we have set targets as we would have wanted to finish the season better,” said Brito.
In CAPS United camp, nothing was more sweeter for their coach Lloyd Chitembwe to get a point on the road against Highlanders.
Chitembwe had kind words for his opponents. “It’s always never easy playing against Highlanders, especially at Barbourfields. We really wanted to control the game as we had dominance of the pitch in the first half,” said Chitembwe.
The Green Machine coach said he was aware that Bosso would improve in the second half. “We knew they were going to come back at us, since they were chasing the game. The anticipation was correct.
“Unfortunately we kept dropping in our half and that invited problems. We conceded unnecessary free kicks and that gave Highlanders a good chance. We know them as a team that efficient in terms of set pieces,” said Chitembwe.
The veteran gaffer, as honest as he was, said his charges could have done better to defend the Highlanders goal.
“I am sure it was our ball, deep in our own half. We lost possession. How we lost it is still a mystery. I don’t know how it happened. Thereafter we could not track the marker. It was a well taken equaliser,” said the coach.
Teams:
Highlanders:
A Sibanda (gk), M Chigumira, R Kutsanzira (A Faira, 75mins), C Chigonero (R Lunga, 63mins), L Chikuhwa (E Farasi, 75mins), M Mushore, B Manhire (W Navaya, 63mins), M Mushore, A Mbeba, M Ndlovu, M Ncube.
CAPS United:
A Reynars (gk), A Manokore, I Zambezi, H Chapusha, L Manganyira, P Bamusi (J Daka, 75mins), J Tulani, R Chinyengetere, W Manondo (B Sarupinda, 66mins), C Sithole.
■ @NkosieLegend
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