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Innocent Kurira in BULAWAYO
Highlanders . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (0) 2
CAPS United . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (1) 1
FOR a side that never had a training session before travelling to Bulawayo, CAPS United put up a resilient fight that saw them avoid what should have been a thorough defeat in this Castle Lager Premiership football match at Barbourfields yesterday.
The visitors put up a brave fight in the first half but inevitably fizzled out, giving way to an attacking Bosso side that eventually grabbed an equaliser, and then the winner in the second half.
To make matters worse, CAPS United had to finish the game with 10-man after substitute Marshall Machazane received a red card with just three minutes on the pitch. Machazane was given a straight red-card in the 85th minute for a crude tackle on Washington Navaya.
Having taken the game to the hosts in the opening stages of the match, the Green Machine, somehow relaxed, and were duly punished.
Highlanders took the crown as “victors of the battle of the cities”. The victory saw Highlanders remain on sixth position on the log with 38 points, while CAPS United remained in 12th place.
The fixture had been in doubt with CAPS United players threatening not to fulfill the assignment till they are paid their owed dues.
With the odds clearly against the visitors, surprisingly, they scored first through a William Manondo well-taken shot that proved how good the goal poacher has been, in the midst of the chaos in his team.
Manondo broke the deadlock after capitalising on a Darlington Mukuli blunder at the back.
Mukuli attempted a back pass which was intercepted by Manondo who rifled home for his 15th goal of the season in the league.
Highlanders were the better side in the second half and did enough to comeback from the 1-0 deficit to win the game.
Devine Mhindirira scored the equaliser four minutes into the second half after he was fed by Lynoth Chikuhwa on the right.
Washington Navaya got the winner for Bosso after 78 minutes, tapping home a Godfrey Makaruse cross from the left.
Highlanders assistant coach, Joel Luphahla, admitted his side had a terrible first half but was happy with how his charges reacted in the second half.
“It was a difficult game. I thought the boys did well in the second half. It was beautiful to watch. I am sure that in the first half our movement was not good and our confidence was low. It’s expected when as a player you are not sure if you’re not sure you will play or not. For the boys to tune up the mentality in the second half was difficult but we are happy that as a club we have got three points. We have to go back and sort out what we did wrong in the first half,” said Luphahla.
His opposite number Llyod Chitembwe was full of praise for the effort put by his charges.
“We are talking of a team that never had any training sessions. For them to give me this gutsy performance, l thought they did very well. These are good experiences as far as l am concerned.
“I am sure the boys will get stronger and stronger in these kinds of situations. I would like to give it to them. They came here, they fought considering we never trained. I think they deserved some special praise. If the players can show this kind of commitment they deserve praise,” said Chitembwe.
Teams
Highlanders: Ariel Sibanda, Rahman Kutsanzira, Devine Mhindirira, Lynoth Chikuhwa, Ray Lunga( Washington Navaya 75th min), Nqobizitha Masuku, Godfrey Makaruse, Andrew Mbeba, Stanley Ngala, Darlington Mukuli (Bukhosi Sibanda 88th min) , Mbongeni Ndlovu.
CAPS United: Tonderai Mateyaunga (Tatenda Munditi 55th min), Patrick Musaka, Kenneth Bulaji, Pawell Govere (Marshall Machazane 82nd min), Valentine Musarurwa, Devon Chafa, Joel Ngodzo (Blessing Sarupinda 50th min), Phineas Bamusi, Emmanuel Mandiranga, Clive Rupiya, William Manondo.
Online Reporter