Brito watches as Bosso win

Innocent Kurira in BULAWAYO
NEW Highlanders’ head coach Baltemar Jose De Oliveira Brito watched from the VIP enclosure while one of his assistants, Joel Luphahla, led the home side to an important 1-0 win over Harare City in a Castle Lager Premiership match at Barbourfields yesterday.

Although Chronicle Sport could not ascertain whether Bosso will face sanctions for allowing Luphahla to take charge, after ZIFA said it would not extend his waiver last week, Brito watched anxiously from the stands and continuously scribbled notes.

Luphahla doesn’t have a CAF A coaching badge and can’t lead the technical staff under strict FIFA club licensing requirements.

Goalkeeper and captain Ariel Sibanda was arguably the man-of-the-match, as he did not only score the all-important goal, from the spot kick in the 81st minute, but also made numerous match-winning saves to deny the visitors.

Sibanda converted the penalty after substitute Washington Navaya was hacked down inside the box by Harare City defender Collin Mujuru.

Harare City did not dispute referee Curtbert Zigwati’s decision and the kick was taken without incident.

Although he accepted the penalty call, Harare City coach Taurayi Mangwiro felt Bosso players did not observe Fair Play in some instances.

“It was a very competitive match and my players gave it their all. l thought Sibanda had an outstanding game.

“Poor communication from our defenders and we gave away the penalty and the three points.

“The penalty decision was correct.

“Our defenders failed to communicate and that resulted in the penalty. You are not forced to observe Fair Play, l thought Highlanders were not observing Fair Play and, on three occasions today, they failed to exercise that,” he said.

Luphahla handed starts to youngsters Darlington Mukuli and striker Mthabisi Ncube.

Veteran Joel Ngodzo was also given the nod in midfield.

Bosso knocked the ball neatly in midfield in the early stages, but it was the visitors who were more threatening in the opening 12 minutes.

Emmanuel Mandiranga almost caught Sibanda off guard with what looked like a harmless ball, but the goalkeeper recovered to tip the ball over the bar.

Godfrey Makaruse, who was playing as a left wingback in a 3-5-2 formation, was Bosso’s danger man in the first half, as he constantly found his way past Harare City right-back Zvikomborero Biseki, but lacked the killer punch.

With the Bosso fans becoming restless, it took Ngodzo to lift their spirits.

He unleashed a low drive which deflected off Mudadi and went a few inches wide of the target in the 40th minute.

The midfielder was back a minute later with a dipping free-kick that was tipped over by the visitors’ goalkeeper Kelvin Shangiwa.

Just before the break, Bosso central defender Peter Muduhwa thought his shot from inside the box in a goalmouth melee had crossed the line, but referee Zigwati and his second assistant Prince Mathumo, thought otherwise.

Late in the second-half Andrew Mbeba recovered well to block Wilfred Muvirimi’s shot after the visitors’ midfielder had gone through on goal.

Luphahla gave credit to his charges for notching up three points.

“I just want to give my players the credit for winning under difficult conditions. We have not been playing well so there was pressure and the players managed to handle it well.

“The goalkeeper did well and saved us. It was the same last week. Credit to the goalkeepers’ coach, l think he is doing well.

“I also want to give credit to coach Brito. He is my mentor and everything that we did today, he contributed,” said Luphahla.