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Ricky Zililo Sports Reporter
Highlanders …………………………… (1) 4
Tripple B ………………………………… (0) 1
CHAMPIONSHIP contenders Highlanders turned on the heat outclassing relegation threatened Tripple B at Barbourfields Stadium yesterday and in the process leapfrogged to the top of the Castle Lager Premier Soccer League.
The Bulawayo giants who were last on top of the log in Week 15 when they were tied on 29 points with city rivals Chicken Inn, wasted a glut of scoring opportunities only managing four against a shapeless Tripple B.
With Dynamos losing 0-2 at Mandava Stadium to FC Platinum, Highlanders’ victory at Barbourfields Stadium saw them dethroning the defending champions from the top of the log and open a two-point lead. The last time Bosso had a comfortable lead at the top of the log was after Week 13 when they had 29 points with the then second placed Harare City on 25.
In his post-match interview, Highlanders’ coach Kelvin Kaindu said he desires to stay at the top of the log until the end of the season.
Highlanders’ remaining matches are away to relegation threatened Black Rhinos in Rimuka, home to championship contenders Dynamos in Week 26, travel to Harare for a date against Motor Action, play host to Triangle in Week 28, return on the road to face Harare City in the capital and end the season at home to Shabanie Mine.
“It was a good game and we managed to score four goals despite us missing 10 scoring chances. If you look at the goals we are giving away they are so easy and we have to improve on that aspect.
“Right now we are facing Black Rhinos, a team that is doing well and I think it will be good for us. Staying at the top of the log is not easy but it is good to be up there and we hope to stay there longer and take each game as it comes,” said Kaindu.
Bosso who last won the championship in 2006 seem to have gained momentum and have amassed 44 points from 24 outings.
In yesterday’s encounter, Highlanders’ man-of-the-moment Njabulo ‘Tshiki’ Ncube showed that like wine he has matured with age as he kept Tripple B’s defenders on their toes with his deft touches.
Ncube put Highlanders ahead 12 minutes into the match when he got to the end of a cut-in pass from Masimba Mambare and in the process took his league goals’ tally to eight.
Eight minutes later, the seasoned striker could have completed his brace when Milton Ncube set him through only for him to send his effort way over the bar with Tripple B’s goalkeeper Gilbert Chigwandaza already on the ground.
Highlanders increased their lead three minutes after half time when Bhekimpilo ‘Bhaka’ Ncube beat Chigwandaza in the near post. Bhekimpilo had deceived the Tripple B goalkeeper into thinking that he would send a cross and immediately decided to go for the target.
Mambare also ejected Highlanders’ supporters off their seats in the 51st minute when he scored his team’s third goal which was brilliantly engineered by Njabulo.
The national team midfielder started the move that resulted in Highlanders’ third goal after picking a loose ball just after the centre, released a pass to Bhekimpilo who found Njabulo and the striker threaded a pass through two defenders to Mambare who then dribbled past Chigwandaza and scored in an empty net.
The log anchors did not lose hope despite trailing by three goals and they got their consolation in the 57th minute through Webster Chingodza who capitalised on a defensive lapse by Highlanders’ back four and poked the ball into the nets.
Kaindu pulled out Njabulo in the 66th minute and after that, Tripple B began to move forward in numbers with their centrebacks who had a torrid time containing Njabulo who was behind most of his team’s forays.
Highlanders’ attack looked weak but four minutes before the end of regulation time, Ozias Zibande who had replaced Njabulo put the game beyond the reach of Tripple B when he headed home a Milton cross from the left.
In the 88th minute, Highlanders’ goalkeeper Munyaradzi Diya who had spent the afternoon as a spectator was called into action going airborne to tip a Simon Maengeni header for a corner.
Bhekimpilo was also unlucky not to complete a double when the crossbar denied his headed effort.
Tripple B’s coach Peter Manoti conceded defeat but however said they were not throwing in the towel.
“Not taking anything away from Highlanders performance they played very well and we conceded silly goals as we didn’t defend well. There was a time when Highlanders lost steam but that is when we gave them two easy goals.
“Now we have to go back and correct our mistakes and see to it that we fight all the way and win all our remaining matches. Anything is possible from our remaining matches,” said Manoti.
Teams
Highlanders: Munyaradzi Diya, Innocent Mapuranga, Eric Mudzingwa, Bruce Kangwa, Dumisani Ndlovu, Mthulisi Maphosa (Beavan Chikaka, 59th minute), Masimba Mambare, Peter Moyo (Tinashe Chipunza, 77th minute), Bhekimpilo Ncube, Njabulo Ncube (Ozias Zibande, 66th minute), Milton Ncube
Tripple B: Gilbert Chigwandaza, Oscar Chove, Ephraim Nzwinga, Givemore Fireyi, Michael Varisu, Maxwell Mavhuto (Talent Mkondwa, 84th minute), Webster Chingodza, Timire Mamvura, Simon Maengeni, Ali Kazembe (Makai Kawashu, 54th minute), Lloyd Chiwaridzo (Shepherd Sithole, 77th minute)
Results at a glance
Tuesday: Monomotapa 0, Triangle 4
Yesterday: Harare City 1, Black Mambas 1; Motor Action 0, How Mine 1; Caps United 2, Chicken Inn 1; Hwange 2, Shabanie Mine 1; FC Platinum 2, Dynamos 0; Black Rhinos 0, Buffaloes 1; Highlanders 4, Tripple B 1
Log
P W D L F A Pts
Highlanders 24 13 5 6 37 20 44
Dynamos 24 11 9 4 31 17 42
Harare City 24 11 9 4 34 22 42
FC Platinum 24 12 6 6 32 21 42
Caps United 24 11 6 7 33 25 39
Chicken Inn 24 10 6 8 30 27 36
How Mine 24 10 5 9 23 27 35
Triangle 24 9 7 8 32 28 34
Buffaloes 24 10 4 10 35 35 34
Shabanie Mine 24 9 5 10 25 30 32
Black Mambas 24 8 5 11 21 28 29
Hwange 24 7 7 10 27 26 28
Black Rhinos 24 6 9 9 26 30 27
Monomotapa 24 6 6 12 22 39 24
Tripple B 24 4 7 13 21 39 19
Motor Action 24 3 8 13 15 30 17
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