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Ricky Zililo Sports Reporter
HIGHLANDERS’ coach Kelvin Kaindu yesterday said consistence will be key to their Castle Lager Premier Soccer League campaign.
The Zambian gaffer has the backing of the Highlanders executive who believe he will deliver despite the three losses in the first half of the championship.
The Bulawayo giants have been blowing hot and cold in the first half of the season even though they have managed to cling to the top of the Premiership table.
Bosso is tied on 29 points with second placed Chicken Inn after 15 matches but have a superior goal difference.
It is how the former champions ended their first half of the season which has sparked debate among its faithfuls who think that Highlanders is losing grip of the championship race.
Highlanders lost at home 1-0 to city rivals Chicken Inn before going down 2-1 to Caps United at National Sports Stadium in Harare on Saturday.
However, the Zambian expatriate at the helm of Bosso’s technical department is satisfied with his charges’ first half performance.
Kaindu conceded that competition has been tight.
“It has been a challenging first half but the comforting thing is that we are in a position that we really wanted to be at this time of the season. What is different this season is that every team is picking up points and games are just unpredictable which makes competition even more interesting.
“There are 15 more games to go, we have to work hard and take each game as it comes. We are going to beef our squad and we will have two or so players from the first Division joining us,” said Kaindu.
Highlanders’ second half performance against Caps United was far from convincing and their inability to crack at Caps United’s goal was worrisome.
Kaindu spoke highly about his players but said there is a need to inject new blood, especially to their final third.
Chief striker Njabulo “Tshiki” Ncube who started the season on fire has lost steam, while Beavan Chikaka has fallen wayside alongside baby faced Ozias Zibande with Graham Ncube who returned from injury also struggling to make an impact.
Cleopas “Balotteli” Dube who was acquired from ZPC Hwange last season has also failed to command a regular first team place with youngsters Ryan Howes, Mgcini Sibanda who has been nursing an injury and Bobby Mpofu struggling to break into the team despite 24 players being tried in the opening half.
What is worrying could be the fact that a majority of the players are over 27 and the Under-20 contingent registered to ensure there is development within teams are struggling for game time.
Kaindu is aware of his strikers’ impotence.
“We have come short upfront but the guys have done well under the circumstances. There is a need to beef up our strikeforce and there are players who we have been monitoring and we will have two or so players from the First Division joining us.
“The good thing is that we create chances, which is good for us because it means we just have to work on our finishing so that we pounce on opportunities that come our way. It is better than not creating any chances at all,” said Kaindu.
About him failing to have a regular first team, the Highlanders’ gaffer said the move might work to his advantage in the final round.
“I have a squad of 30 players and they are all there to play. We gave some of the fringe guys some game time so that we see how they perform. The good thing is that the players who have come in have managed to do well in those positions and this might come in handy for us in the second half which will be more congested as we know that whoever comes will do well.
“Selection will also depend on how comfortable we are on the log and that will determine who you can play in which games. Unfortunately as coaches we spend time with the players for the better part of the week and we use their training performance to select them but for others they do not understand it,” said Kaindu.
Besides the 15 league matches left, Highlanders will play in the BancABC Sup8r competition which starts this weekend and should they progress to the next round, it means more games for the players.
Bosso will also be involved in the Mbada Diamonds Cup and with players likely to pick up injuries along the way, those in the reserves will be called upon to fill the void.
The Highlanders coach who during a two-week break went to Zambia, put to rest rumours that he is unsettled at the club.
“I went to Zambia to visit my family since that was the only break I had. I am employed by Highlanders and as it is we are moving as a club. Unless and until my employers decide otherwise I am still a Highlanders employee and serving the club to the utmost of my abilities,” said Kaindu.
Even when the chips are down, the Highlanders family according to club chairman Peter Dube has remained united.
He said weekly review meetings that the club has been having with the latest on Monday have been very positive.
“Everyone is positive and the review meetings that we have had have been fruitful. We listen to each other, we are pulling in the same direction and everyone has been supportive to the technical team as well as players. The important thing is how we rise after the fall.
“We are where we are because of the hard work the team has put throughout the first half and everyone is looking forward to the second half. We are calling on the supporters to rise up, come forward and support the team especially in the second half,” said Dube.
Dube said they are in unison that Bosso should pick itself up and challenge for honours. He called on members and supporters to turn their efforts towards helping the club achieve lofty heights and emphasized that the executive was behind both the players and the technical team.
He said Kaindu would be assisted to lure players to the club for the second half of the season onslaught.
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