adminSikhumbuzo Moyo
Senior Sports Reporter
Highlanders 3-1 Shabanie Mine
FOR the second year running Highlanders suffered the agony of seeing their bitter rivals Dynamos clinch the Castle Lager Premier Soccer League title on the last day of the season through a superior goal difference after failing to punish Shabanie Mine at Barbourfields Stadium yesterday.Highlanders needed to score as many goals as possible past Victor Twaliki, the visitors’ goalkeeper, in order to remain in contention for their maiden league title in seven years but their wasteful strikers did not help their cause.
In the end, they could only afford to score three goals while tired-looking right back Bruce Tshuma had a hand in the visitors’ consolation goal in the 23rd minute that was scored by Caleb Masocha.
Highlanders got their goals from Njabulo Ncube and a brace from Milton Ncube but they were not enough to land them the title despite leaders Harare City drawing 2-2 with Caps United.
City’s final-day surrender allowed Dynamos, 2-0 winners over Black Mambas, to claim a dramatic third Premier League title on the spin.
Bosso, who had dreadlocked Peter Moyo outstanding all afternoon, opened their account in the 10th minute through some individual brilliance from stocky Ncube who dribbled past a Shabanie Mine defender before rounding off an advancing Twaliki to cleverly chip the ball into an empty net.
Nine minutes later, Tshilamoya who needed to score four goals more than Dynamos, doubled their lead through the left-footed Milton who charged towards goal with a mazy run. He intelligently dribbled past Rodney Mware who had the misfortune of letting the ball pass between his legs, before coolly slotting the ball past an advancing Twaliki with a delicate left curler.
At that moment, the Highlanders fans anticipated an avalanche of goals. But the 2-0 lead lasted just three minutes, thanks to a moment of madness from Tshuma who, for reasons only known to himself, laid a sitter for former Dynamos player Norman Maroto who fumbled with the ball as Munyaradzi Diya came out of his line to close the gap. The ball fell kindly into the path of Masocha who had the easiest of tasks to pull one back.
Two minutes later, Bosso could have found goal number three but central defender, Eric Mudzingwa, who had a below par performance by his standards, directed his effort over the bar from point blank range.
Highlanders coach Kelvin Kaindu then made an injury inspired substitution in the 27th minute, taking out Njabulo for Ozias Zibande.
“We could not risk Njabulo especially looking at the fact that we have a major cup final next weekend,” said Kaindu after the match.
Njabulo picked up a hip injury earlier on.
A minute after the introduction of Zibande, Knox Mutizwa could have extended the home team’s lead with a beautiful curler that went wide. Two minutes before halftime, referee of the day, the burly Mlindeli Ndebele shocked spectators when he flashed a yellow card to Bosso’s holding midfielder Simon Munawa for simulation when he appeared to have been blocked by a Shabanie player.
It ended 2-1 in the first 45 minutes and Bosso were still very much in the race.
The second half had little to offer in terms of goalmouth action save for substitutions from both camps, Highlanders pulling out young Mutizwa for the dreadlocked Bhekimpilo Ncube in the 57th minute while Luke Masomere, the visitors’ charismatic coach, took out Blessed Mbavarira for Phillip Sithole and Maroto for Fungai Chirinda a minute later.
Winger Masimba Mambare was taken out for Heritein Masuku in the 65th minute as Highlanders looked for more goals which proved to be elusive.
The third goal finally came right at the death when Milton met Zibande’s cross with a divine header, but it was a case of too little too late.
“We played well despite the loss,” Shabanie Mine’s Masomere reflected after the match.
Teams:
Highlanders: M Diya, B Tshuma, B Kangwa, I Mapuranga, E Mudzingwa, S Munawa, P Moyo, M Mambare (H Masuku 65th minute), K Mutizwa (B Ncube 57th minute), N Ncube, M Ncube
Shabanie Mine: V Twaliki, B Mbavarira (P Sithole 58th minute), W Ngonya, R Mware, S Muchabaiwa, T Mombeshora, F Bushiri, V Ndaba (P Mudena 82nd minute), P Zimunya, N Maroto (F Chirinda (58th minute), C Masocha.
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