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Ricky Zililo Senior Sports Reporter
HIGHLANDERS FC last line of defence will be significant in their title aspirations as they have three quality goalkeepers in the form of Munyaradzi Diya, Ariel Sibanda and Njabulo Nyoni.
The Bulawayo giants who last won the championship in 2006 have made their intentions of winning the title public through their off-season signings.
Bosso got Kudakwashe Mahachi who is on loan from South Africa’s Mamelodi Sundowns, the trio of Joel Ngodzo, Welcome Ndiweni and striker Charles Sibanda from FC Platinum, attacking midfielder Valentine Ndaba from Shabanie Mine and winger Rahman Kutsanzira who retraced his footsteps back to the club from Caps United.
Goalkeeper Nyoni and Felix Chindungwe complete the list of players that have been signed by Bosso having turned out for Chicken Inn last season.
It is the capture of Nyoni that speaks volumes about how serious they are taking their campaign as it has been proved in other more competitive leagues that a good goalkeeping department can make a difference in as far as the title race is concerned.
At the weekend, stand-in Highlanders coach Mark Mathe started with Ariel against FC Platinum and the shot-stopper who spent the better part of last season on the bench, deputising Diya, showed that he is ready to fight for a starting place denying ex-Bosso striker Njabulo “Tshiki” Ncube a goal from the penalty spot.
It is the composure that Sibanda exhibited that left many convinced that Diya and Nyoni are up for a challenge.
Golakeepers’ coach Peter Nkomo said at the beginning of the year that he would work on getting Sibanda back into the groove.
National team coaches and Tembo Chuma were found wanting in reviving his spirits after the Luanda nightmare in 2012 in which he conceded two goals as the Warriors lost 2-0 to bow out of the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations finals in South Africa.
Nyoni came in at the start of the second half and the former Chicken Inn goalkeeper did not disappoint either as he managed to deal with dangerous crosses that FC Platinum players were sending.
Mathe is happy with the goalkeepers’ competition and believes that it motivates each player to work harder.
“What we have is a healthy competition especially on the goalkeeping side because all the three guys that we have are quality players.
“As a technical team we know that any of the three who will be given the nod to start will deliver as they will be spurred by competition that we have. Remember, a good goalkeeper at times can win you games by denying opponents from scoring and it is our hope that the guys will continue working hard, supporting one another if the other is not in the team,” said Mathe.
He said they will continue rotating goalkeepers during their pre-season matches as they continue trying to strike a balance in their squad.
This weekend, Bosso will play two matches in the CG Msipa Scholarship Trust Charity tournament involving four teams.
Highlanders take on Premiership returnees Chapungu in the semi-final set for Saturday in Gweru while FC Platinum and Shabanie Mine will clash in a Zvishavane derby on the same day in the other match.
The final is set for Mandava Stadium in Zvishavane on Sunday.
Chapungu fired warning shots last Sunday beating How Mine 5-1 at Ascot Stadium and bolstered their squad bringing in striker Brighton Mugoni from Black Rhinos, midfielders Maxwell Mavhuto and Liberty Kim from Tripple B and Black Boots respectively as well as goalkeeper Roy Mazingi who was at Shabanie Mine last season.
“Obviously we need to strike a balance in strengthening that winning mentality as well as seeing to it that we achieve our goal of perfecting combinations and making sure that we sharpen our finishing. The idea is to score more than our opponents and make sure that defensively we are intact.
“I believe playing away in the CG Msipa competition will help us in terms of technical assessment of areas we have raised,” said Mathe.
Fixtures
Saturday: 1. Chapungu v Highlanders (Ascot Stadium, Gweru), 2. Shabanie Mine v FC Platinum (Mandava Stadium, Zvishavane)
Sunday: Loser 1 v Loser 2 (Mandava Stadium, 12PM), Final (3PM)
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