Online Reporter
Innocent Kurira at Barbourfields Stadium
Highlanders 0-0 Triangle United
MAFIOS Chihweta gave it everything. He ran, dribbled, probed, created — and then did it all over again. For much of the match, he carried Highlanders on his back. It was the kind of performance that should be remembered. One that deserved a goal, a win — something. But it ended goalless.
The pint-sized winger won over the Barbourfields crowd with a tireless, inventive display that merited far more than the scoreboard reflected. Even interim coach Try Ncube admitted it felt like a solo act.
“It’s another game where we failed to finish the chances we created. We’re disappointed. He (Chihweta) is doing well and is very talented. The other players need to step up, because it’s becoming almost a one-man show. We have to support him as much as possible, but luck isn’t on our side,” said Ncube.
Triangle United coach Genesis Mangombe was content with the point.
“It wasn’t a good result, but it was a better result. We had chances to kill the game. I thought there was a clear penalty call — had we got that, we might have scored and won. But we were playing against Highlanders, and it was never going to be easy. I’m happy we didn’t concede,” said Mangombe.
Highlanders dominated possession and created the better chances, but a mix of poor finishing and lack of composure in key moments meant they had nothing to show for it. With Andrew Mbeba sidelined through injury, Bosso turned to a central defensive pairing of Arthur Ndlovu and Marlven Hativagoni. The duo handled Triangle’s limited threat with relative ease, but the real issues lay at the other end of the pitch.
They started brightly. In the ninth minute, Reason Sibanda clattered into Triangle goalkeeper Tatenda Chikosi just outside the box and was shown a yellow card by referee Mhaka Magare — a decision that drew loud boos from the home fans. The tension was building early.
Chihweta was Bosso’s brightest spark, frequently switching flanks and keeping Triangle’s defence under pressure. But as the half wore on, his relentless drive was repeatedly let down by his teammates’ poor decision-making and finishing.
At the other end, Hativagoni made a vital block in the 24th minute to deny a powerful strike from Aaron Zeka. Triangle’s appeals for handball were waved away.
Bosso nearly opened the scoring in the 33rd minute when Mvelo Khoza’s curling cross from the right nearly crept in, landing on the roof of the net and drawing gasps from the crowd.
But the most glaring miss came just four minutes later.
Chihweta danced past two defenders and squared the ball perfectly for Marvin Sibanda, who hesitated — allowing the recovering defence to snuff out the chance. Barbourfields let him know what they thought, booing and calling for his substitution.
Ncube remained composed on the touchline despite the growing unrest. Chihweta kept pressing and even won a penalty appeal late in the half after being brought down in the box, but the referee wasn’t interested.
At half-time, Ncube rang the changes in search of a breakthrough. Marvin Sibanda was replaced by Mason Mushore, while Panashe Mushonga came on for Never Rauzhi. The changes injected energy, but still no goals.
Two minutes after the restart, Reason Sibanda wasted another golden chance — slicing his shot wide inside the box with only the keeper to beat. Mushonga, lively down the right, won a free-kick in the 53rd minute just outside the area, but again, nothing came of it.
Bosso continued to dominate possession, with Chihweta at the heart of everything. But their inability to convert chances began to frustrate both coach and crowd.
The miss that truly deflated the stadium came in the 67th minute.
Chihweta again beat his man on the right and cut the ball back into the area. It rolled perfectly to Reason Sibanda, unmarked just yards from goal. But somehow, he blasted over the bar. The groans from the crowd said it all.
Despite their dominance, Highlanders had to settle for a point. Chihweta’s brilliant individual display went unrewarded — once again.
Teams
Highlanders: R Muza, M Khoza (T Dube 70’), A Ndlovu, R Sibanda, M Hativagoni, M. Sibanda (M Mushore 46’), N Rauzhi (P. Mushonga 46’), D Mukuli, H Ncube (NDlovu 76’), L Mutumbi, M Chihweta
Triangle United: T Chikosi, J Pedra, J Munsaka (B Chihota 73’), P Machengete, A Mawadza, M. Bamara, T Kamusoko (B Sarupinda 64’), A Zeka, W Shave (CMusimwa 68’), T Chataluka, E Njini (MMudzimu 65’)
