adminHIGHLANDERS wasted a glut of scoring chances as Kiglon held them to a goalless draw in a Castle Premier Soccer League match at Barbourfields yesterday.
The Bulawayo giants were blunt and could have massacred the visitors within the first 20 minutes.
It was a valuable point gained for Kiglon while Bosso could live to rue the points that they have dropped at home.
Kiglon’s coach Pearson Matipedza was happy with the result and applauded his charges for defending well.
“I made it clear that we were coming here for a point. We managed to do that by defending well for 90 minutes.
“We knew that Highlanders would send all their men in search of a goal and that is the reason why we had so many players behind the ball.
“We actually parked an Airbus instead of a bus and they failed to penetrate us.
“I think things are slowly coming up considering that we lost almost the entire team and my job at the moment was to bring stability and have a watertight defence.
“My next assignment is to work on scoring since we are defending well,” said Matipedza.
With a bit of luck, Kiglon could have left Bulawayo with maximum points but they too, just like Highlanders, squandered the few scoring opportunities that came their way. The match started with the hosts enjoying superior ball possession which they failed to capitalise on.
The former champions’ first attempt at goal was in the 13th minute when ageing Gift Lunga (Jnr) sent in a cross from the left which Simon Munawa headed into the hands of the impressive Tsungai Mudzamiri.
Highlanders continued their search for a goal with Lawson Nkomo forcing Mudzamiri to dive full length to his left to punch for corner a curler by the Bosso defender in the 18th minute.
A minute later Kiglon got a freekick outside Highlanders’ box but Shephard Chokuwamba skied his effort over the bar.
Highlanders quickly played the ball upfront with Munawa setting up Njabulo Ncube who failed to tap the ball into an empty net with Mudzamiri out of his line.
He fluffed another scoring opportunity after being set up by Munawa in the 22nd minute.
After some build-ups in the 63rd minute, Nkomo’s shot from outside the box was punched into the path of Vincent Nzombe who in turn failed to score.
Four minutes before fulltime, Last Chibwiro picked up a loose ball in his half and charged towards Highlanders’ goal, exchanged passes with More Moyo but the former hurried his shot when he came face to face with Bosso goalkeeper Arial Sibanda.
Highlanders’ gaffer Mkhuphali Masuku said complacency has been costing them points.
“When you are not scoring there is no way you can win matches. We created a number of chances but failed to convert them. Our strategy was to play the ball around, create scoring chances, which we did but failed in the final third. I think complaceny and strikers’ poor conversion rate are the reasons why we are losing points willy-nilly.
“Had resources permitted, I would have gone to the market for a quality striker,” said Masuku.
Teams
Highlanders
A Sibanda, G Banda, I Mapuranga, L Nkomo, B Tshuma, B Ndlovu, S Munawa (L Matawu 69th minute), R Kutsanzira, G Lunga (B Kangwa 73rd minute), X Ncube (V Nzombe 46th minute), N Ncube
Kiglon
T Mudzamiri, B Gumbo, K Kapikinyu, M Mususa, C Machona, G Manhuwa, B Bvumbwe, M Moyo, L Chibwiro, S Chokuwamba, K. Magejo
Online Reporter