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Ricky Zililo Sports Reporter
RESURGENT Highlanders striker Njabulo “Tshiki” Ncube has said it’s time to pay back the club which plucked him from the football grave by helping the Bulawayo giants win a league and cup double.Ncube has in the last five league and cup games awoken from his slumber, rediscovering his early season form that saw him score five goals in the first six matches.
The former league top marksman with now defunct Railstars has scored four goals in Highlanders’ last five matches, two against FC Platinum in a league match, one in the Mbada Diamonds Cup first round encounter against Triangle and was on target when Bosso thumped Tripple B 4-1 in a league match on Wednesday.
Like wine, Ncube seems to be maturing with age and is using his experience to tear apart opposition defences. Ncube opened the floodgates for Highlanders against Tripple B before picking a head injury after a clash with a Tripple B player and making way for Ozias Zibande.
Ncube said he might have lost pace but his experience makes up for lack of speed. He thanked his coach Kelvin Kaindu for having faith in him when he had a dry spell.
“This has been a tough season for me because I started well but then lost form along the way. It’s part of football to be off form but what is important is having mental strength to rediscover that form. I have been working very hard and personally, I feel I have hit the right form at a good time when the team is playing well.
“I know there are others who think because I don’t have pace I can’t score, they are wrong because the amount of experience I have is just invaluable. It’s true that these youngsters are faster than me but those who want to underrate me can do so at their own peril. I have played for a number of teams and I am using what I have learnt to my advantage and it’s good that I am contributing to the team’s success. The coaches stood by me when I was down and even the players were great. My striking partners and the midfielders understand my style and that is why we are tearing apart teams,” Ncube said.
The much travelled striker has in the past turned out for now defunct Railstars, Masvingo United, Motor Action, Taffic, Quelaton and Botswana’s Nico United. He said he hopes to continue scoring for fun in Highlanders colours.
Last year, Ncube played for Highlanders for the first half of the season before leaving the club in a huff during the mid-season transfer and headed for Botswana.
At the beginning of the 2013 season, Kaindu gave the striker a lifeline when he gave him another dance with Bosso.
“Not many people are lucky like me to be given a second chance to play for a big club like Highlanders. The coach has on a number of times shown faith in me and the Highlanders family has embraced me very well.
I believe that the only way I can pay back Highlanders is to win them something. I owe Bosso the championship and I believe with the crop of players that we have, it is very much possible to win the league and the Mbada Diamonds Cup,” said Ncube.
Bosso, How Mine, Harare City and Caps United made it into the semi-finals of the Mbada Diamonds Cup. The Bulawayo giants will know their opponents after today’s draw.
Highlanders top the Castle Lager Premier Soccer League with 44 points from 24 games and enjoy a two-point lead over second-placed Dynamos.
Ncube said they have to maintain their momentum and make sure that they win their games to make sure that they win the championship which Bosso last laid their hands on in 2006.
The Bulawayo giants’ remaining matches are away to relegation threatened Black Rhinos in Rimuka on Sunday, home to championship contenders Dynamos in Week 26, travel to Harare for a date with 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.
Ncube said he fancies winning the championship with at least two games left.
“Talking about us winning the championship might look as if we are exerting pressure on ourselves but the truth of the matter is that we are determined to win it. We are taking each game at a time and if you see us getting a positive result against Black Rhinos on Sunday, then we will have to destroy Dynamos at home. It will not be nice to win the league without beating Dynamos,” Ncube said.
Online Reporter