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Lovemore Dube Senior Sports Editor
MARK Mathe on Sunday failed to provide the tonic to rescue Highlanders FC’s championship bid when he probably proved that he was not adding any value after Kelvin Kaindu’s tenure.
Mathe presided in the club’s worst result of the year, a four-nil whacking by Caps United in Harare. He was appointed caretaker coach last week replacing Kaindu who parted ways with the club a fortnight ago after he and his seemingly clueless technical team, had led Bosso to 12th position in the second half’s table with nine points out of a possible 27.
On Sunday Bosso found themselves on third position from the bottom as their woes on the field mounted. The target is now on the administration. Like the man he replaced Bekithemba Ndlovu, Mathe lost 4-0 at a time Bosso were expected to put their title challenge back on track. Ndlovu lost 0-4 to Harare City, a result which appeared to have an impact on his contract negotiations for a third year as Highlanders assistant coach. At the time of losing to Harare City, it was generally felt that he was not good enough even for grooming within. Mathe too, of whom so much had been expected having beaten Caps United 4-0 at Barbourfields Stadium with a performance which was until last weekend talk of the season, just got his tactics and team selection wrong.
Perhaps if things had gone his way, people would be saying what a master tactician he is.
Ariel Sibanda, impressive since Peter Nkomo’s arrival, was rested, Felix Chindungwe, the team’s best player having come late onto the scene, was removed from anchorman to partner rightback Erick Mudzingwa in the centre, with jittery Dumisani Ndlovu at right back.
How on earth does Mathe justify Njabulo Nyoni’s inclusion after staying out in the cold for so long? The last time he was thrown into the fray, also in Harare, he was a ball of nerves and Bosso lost 0-1 to Dynamos. It did not need a rocket scientist to suggest Mthulisi Maphosa’s exclusion from Sunday’s game.
A few days after he alleged three quarters of the team slept with a woman that he (Maphosa) also slept with, the best was to excuse the veteran. His mental preparedness for the task to appease hard to please fans was going to be questionable. The consequences of his utterances in court to the families of his teammates and team bond, in an environment with no sports psychologists, just exposed the mediocrity in the technical team that Highlanders fans have been exposed to in recent times.
A fact is Highlanders have struggled to keep the same line up in two consecutive matches in the last three seasons. With Sunday’s somewhat questionable team selection, more changes are expected to be rung as the coaches hunt for a turn for better fortunes. There is a belief that team discipline is to blame with the under-achieving players paid very well. More successful Highlanders teams had players paid a pittance in monthly allowances and salaries with winning bonuses high to motivate the boys to fight on the field.
Could Mark Mathe be the man for the job and should the Highlanders executives wait until next year to get a head coach?
Hopes on the way forward would be for Bosso not to consider recycling their former players.Considering an outsider who does not belong to a faction and one who would look into the ranks of the club to find an assistant with knowledge of the club culture.
An imposing manager like Lawrence Phiri, successful as a player and team manager or Cosmas Zulu is what Bosso needs to work on discipline.
Most of the players in the present team lack the club values and commitment as evidenced by drinking sprees at Komabhija and AmaSundays soon after the match, the majority do not deserve a month longer at Bosso.
Let the city and Bosso rise. Imports should ordinarily be better than what Highlanders has in its juniors.
Online Reporter