GLEAM OF HOPE FOR BOSSO

Highlanders fans celebrate the team’s victory over How Mine at Barbourfields Stadium on Sunday

Bukhosi Mangena Sports Correspondent
HIGHLANDERS finally produced a splendid performance to hand How Mine their heaviest Premiership Soccer League defeat on a hot Sunday afternoon at Barbourfields Stadium.

Sunday’s tie was the third between the two city rivals and second in seven days following the Chibuku Super Cup tie that ended in tears for the Bosso players and fans after a penalty shootout.

The cup defeat seemed fresh at the back of Bosso players’ minds and the way they started the game was testament to their quest for revenge. A brace apiece from Obidiah Tarumbwa and Knox Mutizwa as well as a Simon Munawa strike helped Highlanders return to winning ways in emphatic style by crushing the gold miners 5-1.

This was Bosso’s first league victory since dismissing lowly Whawha 2-0 at the same venue in May. The win saw Bosso jumping one place up from ninth to eighth with 25 points, just one point above Chapungu after 18 matches.

They, however, remain a massive 12 points behind leaders Chicken Inn and only emphatic victories similar to Sunday’s can give them hope of ever catching up with the leading pack.

Chicken Inn are in fine form and a slip up does not look likely considering their present workmanlike form.

Bosso made a bright start to proceedings against How Mine with some aggressive, purposeful and crisp passing football, and took a deserved lead through Tarumbwa in the 10th minute. However, like in previous matches, the Bulawayo giants were pegged back in the 12th minute when Mernard Mupera equalised with a long range drive triggering rumblings of frustration among the huge Bosso contingent.

Goalkeeper Njabulo Nyoni was to blame for the goal through bad positioning that left him flat footed. Highlanders’ keepers have been jittery this season and gifting opponents easy goals. Most of Bosso’s scoring draws could have easily been victories had the keepers been alert and decisive in dealing with crosses.

Memories of another collapse began to play out in the Bosso fans’ minds as soon as How Mine had equalised before they could savour the lead.

Bosso had sunk into a stagnation that resulted in draws being cheered almost as victories this season by their fans. Their fans began wondering if Bosso were again going to surrender the match for a draw or defeat.

While some were still dispairing, Munawa restored their lead in the 31st minute before Tarumbwa and Mutizwa completed How Mine’s misery. Mutizwa may well have notched a hat trick as reports suggest that the referee attributed the third goal to him, although Tarumbwa seemed to have had the final touch.

Munawa and Mutizwa exchanged passes inside the box and the league’s leading goal scorer rounded How Mine keeper Donovan Bernard, slotted the ball goal wards and Tarumbwa seemed to touch it before it trickled into an empty net in the 60th minute. Should the officials give the goal to Mutizwa, it would take his tally to nine goals with 14 matches to go before the end of the season.

The atmosphere at Barbourfields Stadium was crazy when Highlanders went 3-1 up and you could tell how important it was for the fans. When Bosso added two more goals, it was just unbelievable. Scenes of jubilation by Bosso fans that could not have been forecasted this season enveloped Barbourfields Stadium when the final whistle was blown, with almost the entire Soweto section spilling onto the pitch to celebrate a rare win, and an emphatic one for that matter.

Unthinkable as it may have seemed a week ago, Highlanders’ strikers had finally remembered to convert chances into goals. In past matches, they were guilty of spectacular misses that are largely responsible for Bosso’s present position on the league table in the company of relegation candidates.

The next step is for Bosso to try and maintain the momentum at the same venue against FC Platinum on Thursday otherwise their biggest victory in a long time will count for nothing.

Pacesetters Chicken Inn continued with their fine run to maintain their title aspiration by dismissing visiting army side Chapungu 2-0 at Luveve Stadium on Saturday.

The Gamecocks got their goals from double scorer Mitchelle Katsvairo, a pre-season signing.

Coach Joey Antipas said it was tough and challenging at the top as they had to try and outplay every team to maintain that spot.

“We played well over the weekend but we are not champions yet. We still have to play more games and all I can say is that it’s tough at the top as we have to win each game to maintain our position,” said Antipas.

Chicken Inn face a tricky midweek encounter away to Buffaloes in Mutare.

Second placed Triangle continued to breathe heavily behind Chicken Inn by beating relegation threatened Tsholotsho 2-0 at White City Stadium.

Triangle remain three points behind Chicken Inn and the leaders know that any slip up could be costly at this stage.

Tsholotsho have set themselves a target of four wins from their remaining 14 games to survive relegation. Although that task seems daunting, coach Lizwe Sweswe remains hopeful.

“We are still in it and I believe if we win any four of our remaining games and reach 30 points, we will be safe,” said Sweswe.

Tsholotsho last tasted victory last month against ZPC Kariba after signing veterans Joel Lupahla and Siza Khoza to lead their survival battle.

Luphala scored the solitary goal in that victory against ZPC Kariba raising hopes that the Premiership debutants had come right, but their results since then have been downhill.

Triangle entertain champions Dynamos in a do-or-die encounter at their Gibbo fort, which either side would not want to lose at this stage of the season.

Triangle have not lost at Gibbo and would be banking on their home record to see off the champions, who are known for finishing strongly and grinding good results despite not playing well.

Dynamos will go into the fixture hoping fiery striker Rodreck Mutuma maintains his goal scoring form. Mutuma scored a brace, including a last grasp winner against ZPC Kariba on Sunday.

The win was Dynamos’ first over the electricity generators since they gained promotion into the Premiership.

Caps United coach Mark Mathe bought himself some breathing space after his charges edged Flame Lily 1-0 on Saturday. Mathe and his technical department had been given an ultimatum by club president Farai Jere to win games or be booted out. Whawha and Buffaloes shared the spoils in a dull 1-1 stalemate in Gweru.

Table

P W D L F A PTS

Chicken Inn 18 11 4 3 26 11 37

Triangle 18 10 5 3 35 13 34

Dynamos 18 8 8 2 18 12 32

FC Platinum 18 9 4 5 34 17 31

How Mine 18 8 5 5 23 19 29

Harare City 18 7 8 3 21 13 29

Caps United 18 7 7 4 13 13 28

Highlanders 18 6 7 5 22 16 25

Chapungu 18 6 6 6 14 16 24

Hwange 18 3 10 5 17 20 19