Online Reporter
Innocent Kurira/ Onward Gangata
WHEN Highlanders needed a hero, up stepped Reason Sibanda. Again.
For the second game running, the Bosso forward delivered the decisive goal as Highlanders stretched their resurgence with a priceless 1-0 victory over Hardrock at Chahwanda Stadium on Wednesday.
But this one was not just a winner.
It was a moment of magic.
A goal so outrageous, so audacious and so technically perfect that even some Hardrock supporters were left applauding in disbelief.
With the game finely balanced after 70 tense minutes, Andrew Mbeba floated in a teasing cross from the right. Sibanda reacted instinctively, throwing his body into the air before connecting cleanly with a spectacular bicycle kick that flew beyond the goalkeeper and into the back of the net.
For a split second Chahwanda Stadium fell silent.
Then came the explosion.
Bosso players sprinted towards the forward while Highlanders supporters celebrated wildly in the away end after witnessing a strike that instantly entered the conversation for goal of the season.
Hardrock had been defiled, denied and defeated.
And Sibanda was once again the executioner.
The timing of the striker’s purple patch could not be better for Highlanders coach Benjani Mwaruwari, whose side suddenly appear to be finding rhythm after weeks of frustration.
Just days earlier, Sibanda had also scored the winning goal in Bosso’s narrow 1-0 victory over Triangle at Barbourfields Stadium.
Two matches.
Two goals.
Six crucial points.
In a season where Highlanders have often struggled to convert dominance into goals, Sibanda is quickly becoming the man delivering the moments that matter most.
Against Hardrock, Highlanders were widely expected to struggle.
The second-placed Kwekwe-based side had transformed Chahwanda Stadium into a fortress and came into the clash brimming with confidence after scoring nine goals in their previous two matches.
Bosso, meanwhile, arrived carrying at 1oth position with the underdog tag despite their giant status in local football.
But while Hardrock enjoyed periods of possession and pressure, Highlanders remained disciplined and patient, waiting for their opportunity.
And when that chance finally arrived, Sibanda produced genius.
The goal crowned a mature performance from Bosso, who showed grit, defensive discipline and growing belief under Mwaruwari.
Midfielders Rainsome Pavari and captain Darlington Mukuli battled tirelessly in the middle of the park while the defensive pairing of Nomore Chinyerere and Lawrence Mhlanga stood firm against Washington Navaya and the dangerous Hardrock attack.
Yet in the end, it was Sibanda’s brilliance that separated the two sides.
The strike also highlighted the growing confidence within the Highlanders camp, where belief appears to be returning after a difficult start to the season.
Back in April, Mwaruwari had asked supporters for patience during a frustrating run of draws and inconsistent performances.
Now, with back-to-back victories finally secured, Bosso are beginning to look like a team rediscovering its identity.
“My boys fought all the way, they showed character, and the team spirit around us is getting high up there,” said Mwaruwari after the match.
“After this hopefully we improve on the areas we didn’t do well. At times after wins like this one you forget about the mistakes you made but we still need to improve.”
The atmosphere around the club has also improved significantly after players recently received their salaries, easing tensions that had threatened to overshadow the campaign.
That positivity is now beginning to reflect on the pitch.
Highlanders suddenly look hungrier, more organised and increasingly dangerous going forward.
And right at the centre of that revival is Sibanda.
The forward’s movement, confidence and eye for goal are giving Bosso something they badly lacked earlier in the campaign — a ruthless edge in decisive moments.
Now attention shifts to Sunday’s blockbuster showdown against unbeaten Ngezi Platinum Stars at Barbourfields Stadium.
The timing could hardly be more perfect.
Bosso have momentum, the supporters are starting to believe again and Sibanda is red hot.
For Ngezi, the warning signs are clear.
A sleeping giant may finally be waking up.
And if Reason Sibanda continues producing moments of brilliance like the one witnessed in Kwekwe, Highlanders could soon become one of the most feared teams in the league once again.
