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Sports Reporter
Time will tell if this was the game that reinvigorated one club and relegated another but, if so, Highlanders and Bulawayo Chiefs will have been propelled to the extremes by farce.
Several fouls going unchecked, a heart-stopping performance by one Marvelous Chigumira and a wonder goal from the Zimbabwean-born US import, Malvern Sibanda only begin to describe an extraordinary afternoon at Barbourfields Stadium last Sunday.
As the ridiculously entertaining game entered its 90th minute, Highlanders had collected a second set of three-pointers from their past two.
It was Chiefs, passing the ball like a house on fire and defending like life itself depended upon a clean sheet, who sensed the unlikely victory that would keep them in the middle of the league table and as far away as possible at a relegation dog fight come the penultimate rounds of the season.
Then Chiefs failed to clear their lines from a Bosso attack leading to a free kick. Sibanda, still smarting from a missed chance 10 minutes earlier after shooting wide with an open goal curled his free kick into the top left corner with both wall and keeper well beaten and Bosso looked good enough to deliver a second win in as many league games.
Spirit and the power of redemption have not been found wanting among Kelvin Kaindu’s team at least. Then 15 minutes into the second half, Chiefs’ players would be left fuming at the far side assistant referee, raging at the official’s failure to disallow Peter Muduhwa’s tap in at the near post, although in truth the official had initially raised his flag before pointing to the centre to signal a goal.
There was no disguising the magnitude of Sunday’s league match in Kaindu’s team selection and tactical strategy. Chigumira, a right back by nature, seemed to be playing a free role, popping up whenever Bosso was under pressure while also seeing a lot of the ball to initiate attacks.
Against Chiefs, Chigumira offered not only hope of greater defensive solidity for the weeks ahead, but an attacking option also when on the ball.
Newly signed striker, Never Rauzhi was given the afternoon off completely while fellow signing, Nqobile Ndlovu got a run but the luxury must have been tinged with unease, for the former at least, as his competition flourished.
Kaindu’s choice not to deploy Rauzhi might have bewildered a few who were not aware of the agreement between Chiefs and Highlanders regards his use when the two sides meet. For close to two years, Highlanders have lacked penetration and intelligent movement in attack.
It still does at times but with Chigumira on the ball, it seems to have settled that debate in the hope of many more such performances by the dreadlocked defender.
The opening goal was route one in style. Young MacKinnon Mushore cut into the inside from the right after a good pass by Chigumira before he was brought down near the Chiefs’ area. His 40-yard ball Prosper Matutu scurrying to the right but the effort was perfectly measured over the goal and beyond his reach at the near post.
In the first half, Chigumira was given license to roam through the Chiefs midfield from the back, and keeper Matutu even saved his low drive.
Bosso was dominating with a composure and cutting edge that has escaped them frequently this season and the prospect of two straight victories reignited hope for Kaindu’s team from the Soweto faithful. They proved well placed.
And then Chigumira showed why he has become indispensable at Bosso with a well-placed shot to open the scoring in his side’s away defeat to Simba Bhora on Wednesday.
derick.khumalo