Online Reporter
Lawrence Moyo
HIGHLANDERS coach Kelvin Kaindu believes striker Reason Sibanda is currently the best player in the Castle Lager Premier Soccer League.
Signed from neighbours Arenel Movers in January last year and loaned to Bulawayo Chiefs during the 2024 mid-season window, Sibanda grabbed both goals on Saturday as Highlanders beat Yadah 2-0 in a tough match at the Heart Stadium where the hosts hit the woodwork as least twice.
Highlanders have been doing very well in attack despite losing last season’s Golden Boot winner, Lynoth Chikuhwa who is now at Scottland and Sibanda is one of the reasons they have been scoring regularly.
He has been doing well in partnership with Brighton “Maninja” Ncube.
“I think one thing is we lost our leading goal scorer from last season, who has gone to join another team, but we see also the competition. I am happy with the way the boys are combining, they are creating goals for each other. If reason is scoring, Maninja is creating goals for him and if Maninja is scoring, Reason is creating for him.
“I am quite impressed with the performance of Reason. I think in the last games he has been outstanding; he has been working extremely hard, and I hope the injury he picked today is not serious.
“First of all, I think this season (not that he is my player that I am coaching) and at the moment, he is the best player in the league, no doubt. He has demonstrated that when we play at home. I think he has been winning the man-of-the-match in almost all the games that we have played.
“I just hope he maintains his focus and just keep on getting those goals. On the second goal I though he should have controlled but later on I realised that this is a good player who is almost complete and giving us goals. I wish him well and I continue praying that he continues adding and brining goals for Highlanders.”
Sibanda was happy with his brace in what was another good outing at the Heart Stadium where he scored his debut Premier Soccer League goal while on loan at Bulawayo Chiefs last year.
“I am very happy to have scored two goals and to have won away from home. It was a tough game and last season we (Highlanders) lost here and to win here this year is exciting.
“Last year I came here (Heart Stadium) with Bulawayo Chiefs and my first goal in the Premier League, I scored it here and I came back to score two, I am excited. I will keep working hard for the team.”
On the second goal, which even took coach Kaindu by surprise, Sibanda said he knew where the goal was and had already made up his mind that he would hit it first time.
“We are grateful for the support. The fans helped us a lot in this game and their support pushed us to work hard and achieve the result. Without their support maybe the result would have been different, so we are very grateful for the support.”
With the win, Highlanders moved to third place and within two points of the day’s leaders, Simba Bhora.
It was Highlanders’ first win on the road this season after four previous trips yielded a defeat and three draws.
For Yadah it was their first defeat of the season at the Heart Stadium where they had kept two clean sheets against Chicken Inn (0-0) and Kwekwe United (3-0).
Kaindu dedicated Bosso’s second successive league win to a solid defence and Sibanda’s brilliance.
“It was a difficult game, very exciting. We also saw how much the opponents put us under pressure when they made those substitutions, and one positive thing is that we managed two goals away from home., we have picked our first victory away from home and, despite the raids, we were able to defend, and the most important thing was keeping a clean sheet as well.
“It was a great improvement, when we started (the season) we were conceding easy goals and we made a few changes in the way we defend and we could see the resilience in the way we defended, especially the last 20 minutes.”
Kaindu is happy with his side’s attack.
“Its unfortunate (disallowed goal) we could have had two goals within two minutes because, from where I was, I thought our player was onside when the cross was made but I think the referee is always in a better place than us. But for us two score twice in two minutes shows how lethal we are in terms of going forward and we are a team that is scoring in almost all our games, if we can only remain consistent at the back.
“When they (Yadah) made their changes, they looked better than us in terms of tactics and flair, they pushed us behind so much that we felt anytime they could get a goal, but credit goes to the entire team, especially the backline and Reward Muza also making those great saves to ensure we kept a clean sheet.”
