adminInnocent Kurira in BULAWAYO
Highlanders……….. 0
Tenax.……………… 0
HIGHLANDERS coach Baltemar Brito was brave enough to approach disappointed fans at the Soweto End of Barbourfields to apologise for a lifeless show yesterday.
While some fans applauded, quite a number displayed their displeasure at what they felt was a disappointing display, just a week after another lacklustre show against Bulawayo City, which they won 1-0.
The fans were expectant but Bosso never showed up.
It wasn’t a capacity crowd, but those that came expected nothing short of victory.
With the chaos inside the Tenax camp, and a glimpse at their form record, one would have expected Highlanders to run riot over the visitors.
After all, Tenax had lost their last six games and parted ways with coach Simbarashe Maguravushe during the week, with assistant coach Isaac Nengomasha taking charge.
The sights of jubilation on the visitors’ bench at full-time was an indication of what the result meant to them. “The boys played well. We wanted to frustrate them and we did just that.
“In the second half you could see even the fans were getting frustrated.
“We have a lot of positives from this game and this point is a point gained for us.
“I believe the boys did well today,” said Nengomasha.
Brito said the result was evidence of the competitive nature of the PSL.
“We dropped two points, but this shows that the league is competitive.
“There are no easy games in this league. We controlled the second half, but the first half was bad. We dominated play, but we could not score, as they defended well.
“We have to give credit to Tenax because of the way they played. They are in the top-flight league because they deserve it,” said Brito.
From the onset, the visitors pressed high up the pitch in a bid to force mistakes from the Highlanders’ defence that thrives on playing the ball from the back.
The move almost gifted Tenax an early reward in the eighth minute when the visitors’ striker Theophilus Musiteyi was first to a misplaced pass by defender Peter Muduhwa deep in the Highlanders’ half.
Musiteyi unleashed a powerful effort from just outside the box which keeper Ariel Sibanda tipped out for a corner.
Bosso’s first real chance fell to Devine Mhindirira in the 14th minute when his low effort from the edge of the box was saved by Philip Makuni in goals for Tenax.
Other Results
Manica Diamonds 1, Yadah Stars 1; Ngezi Platinum 2 (Arial Makopa, Tendai Matindife), Triangle 0
Mathew Masinge
Online Reporter