Online Reporter
Langton Nyakwenda at Heart Stadium
Highlanders 2-0 Yadah
Highlanders made their first trip to the capital this season with confidence and left with their pride firmly intact after an impressive showing at Heart Stadium yesterday.
Bosso had a goal ruled out inside the opening two minutes, but Reason Sibanda gave the Bulawayo giants reason to celebrate almost immediately, putting the visitors in front just moments later.
Sibanda then volleyed home his second of the afternoon in the 69th minute, taking his personal tally to five goals for the season.
The victory lifted Highlanders to third place on the table with 17 points, after Ngezi Platinum Stars were held to a draw by FC Platinum at Mandava yesterday.
Bosso came into the match on an eight-game unbeaten run, which now extends to nine following this latest win.
Their only defeat this season came on the opening day, a narrow 0–1 loss to MWOS at Baobab on 2 March in the 2025 Castle Lager Premier Soccer League campaign.
Since then, Bosso have registered four wins and five draws.
Yesterday’s result also marked Highlanders’ first away win of the season.
The two sides have now met 13 times in the league since Yadah’s promotion in 2018. Highlanders now boast eight wins, while Yadah remain on three, with two matches ending in draws.
However, Bosso had to work hard for their three points. Yadah applied considerable pressure in the second-half, especially after introducing Mandla Mlilo, King Nadolo and Shingai Masukuta.
They had two efforts cleared off the line and were denied by the post late in the match.
Highlanders coach Kelvin Kaindu praised his back four for withstanding the late onslaught, particularly in the final 20 minutes.
The Zambian gaffer also hailed two-goal hero Sibanda as the best player in the league at present.
“More credit, I think, goes to our back four and the goalkeeper, the resilience they showed was commendable.
“When Yadah made their substitutions in the last 20 minutes, they dominated, but we defended well,” Kaindu said.
Highlanders are steadily climbing the table. They now sit third with 17 points, just two behind league leaders MWOS, who play Chicken Inn at Luveve this afternoon.
“The good thing is we managed to score two goals and also keep a clean sheet.
“We picked up an away win, which had eluded us so far this season.
“I believe this is a big win for us, and we just need to stay focused,” Kaindu added.
On Sibanda, he said: “Credit goes to our two strikers, Brighton Ncube and Reason Sibanda, not only for scoring but for creating chances for each other.
“To be honest, Reason struggled last season and we had to loan him out.
“But his return has transformed him completely. Right now, I feel he’s the best player in the league.
“He’s consistent, helps us aerially, creates, defends and scores. He’s close to being a complete player, and we hope he maintains the momentum.”
Yadah coach Ikabort Masocha felt his side were too passive in the first- half.
“For me, it was a case of playing poorly in the first half and coming back stronger in the second,” said Masocha.
Yadah went into the match sitting just above the relegation zone, with eight points from nine matches, but slipped into the bottom four after the defeat.
This came despite their impressive 2–1 midweek victory over 2023 champions Ngezi Platinum Stars at Baobab.
The Miracle Boys didn’t give up, looking the more dangerous side in the latter stages.
A triple substitution in the 56th minute saw King Nadolo, Mandla Mlilo and Shingai Masukuta replace Marvelous Faranando, Francis Mustafa and Josiah Daka.
The changes had an immediate impact, with Nadolo and Masukuta both going close to scoring.
Bosso responded in the 62nd minute, bringing on Gillian Nyathi and Tendai Muvuti for the Mushore brothers, Mason and McKinnon.
The visitors remained organised, with Luckmore Mutumbi and Arthur Ndlovu outstanding at the heart of the defence.
