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Robson Sharuko
Editor
THREE months ago, this was supposed to be the special day when Highlanders would be crowned champions, for the first time in 17 years, in their Theatre of Dreams.
Their spiritual home, Barbourfields, was supposed to host the ceremony where Bosso would be crowned champions, for the first time, since 2006.
And, everything was pointing to a grand ceremony fit for the kings, just three years before Highlanders celebrate their century of existence.
Bosso were unbeaten in 19 league games, going into the final weekend of August, and life was very good for the royal black-and-white army.
However, a 0-2 defeat at the hands of FC Platinum at Mandava triggered a sensational collapse and, at Barbourfields on Sunday, the champions will be crowned at Barbourfields.
However, their identity won’t be black-and-white and their name won’t be Highlanders.
Instead, a team whose primary colours are blue-and-white, which is a reminder of those Glamour Boys who represent the ultimate enemy, will be crowned champions on Sunday.
Their name is Ngezi Platinum Stars.
Bosso will simply be mere witnesses to an occasion which, just three months ago, appeared to have been tailor-made for them.
It’s likely they will even form a guard of honour for the champions.
But, how did we get here?
Including that game against FC Platinum, which changed everything, Bosso have played 14 league games, lost SEVEN, drew SEVEN and won only TWO – against Herentals and Yadah.
Highlanders picked just 11 out of a possible 42 points.
That represents a failure mark of 26.19 percent.
Ngezi Platinum won TEN of their last 14 league games, did not feature in any draw and lost just FOUR matches.
They picked an impressive 30 out of a possible 42 points.
That represents a pass mark of 66.66 percent, which is quite impressive, especially when compared with the way their main rivals collapsed during that same period.
The last 14 games defined the identity of the champions, who will, be crowned on Sunday, and while Ngezi excellened, Bosso collapsed.
There had been concerns about the impotence of Bosso’s strikeforce, even when they were enjoying that unbeaten run, with most of their victories being one-goal wins.
That lightweight strikeforce is again reflected in the last 14 games in which Bosso scored only SEVEN goals, at a rate of one goal every two games.
In contrast, Ngezi scored 22 goals in the last 14 games.
Online Reporter