Reliving bossoa��s last title

Raymond Jaravaza
THE last man to bring the Premier Soccer League title into the Highlanders trophy cabinet was none other than Methembe Ndlovu.

Back then he was just 33 years old but age and inexperience could not stop him from writing history as the youngest coach to win the league in his maiden season at Amahlolanyama.

B-Metro Sport took some time to dig into the archives and unearth some of the memorable quotes from the man who guided Bosso to a league title with two matches to spare.

In Week 25 of the 2006 Premier Soccer League after being held to a 2-2 draw by neighbours Railstars in a local derby Ndlovu was clearly not amused by the result. At that stage the black and white family could literally feel the trophy within their reach.

But a draw wasna��t doing Ndlovu any favours.

a�?I am satisfied with the way the team played but at the same time disappointed with not winning. We played well and created the chances.a�?

A trip to Masvingo United at Mucheke StadiumA� was to follow. The Bosso juggernaut, buoyed by a large contingent of fans that travelled all the way to the match venue from Bulawayo, did not disappoint winning the tie 1-0.

In a post match interview with our sister paper The Chronicle, Ndlovu remained modest about his chances of winning the title.

a�?I cana��t say we have won the title, but we are moving in the right direction. Ita��s important for us to concentrate on each game as it comes and we are already thinking about the away trip to Hwange.a�?

But as fate would have it the Hwange trip proved to be the deciding factor in the title race.
Highlanders romped to a 4-2 away win.

Ndlovu, still the humble character, praised everyone else but himself.

a�?I am very thankful to the whole technical staff, who came under undue and unfounded accusations and criticisms from some quarters.

a�?It was the unity between the players, the technical staff, the board and the executive that helped us keep going and eventually achieve the desired results.

a�?I would like to attribute the overall achievement of the team to everyone at Highlanders and that includes the supporters because we all pulled in the same direction.a�?

A week after wrapping up the league title a�� albeit with two dead rubber games against Mwana Africa and Shabanie Mine left a�� the Highlanders executive led by chairman Ernest a�?Maphephaa�� Sibanda made a unanimous decision to take part in the continental premier competition, the Caf Champions League.

The road to victory

From game one to game 27

Chapungu 1 – Bosso 2

Bosso 3 – Shabanie Mine 0

Mwana Africa 1 – Bosso 2

Bosso 4 – Hwange 1

Bosso 2 – Masvingo0

Railstars 1 – Bosso 3

Bosso 3 – Shooting Stars 2

Black Rhinos 1 – Bosso 3

Bosso 1 – Caps United 0

MonomotapaA� 1 – Bosso2

Bosso 0 – Motor Action 0

Zimbabwe SaintsA� 1 – Bosso 3

Bosso 0 – Buymore 1

DynamosA� 0 – Bosso 1

Bosso 3 a�� Lancashire Steel 0

Lancashire SteelA� 1 – Bosso 0

Bosso 2- Dynamos 0

Buymore 0 – Bosso 0

Bosso 1- Zimbabwe Saints 0

Motor Action 1- Bosso 0

BossoA� 4 – Monomotapa 2

Caps United 2 – Bosso 1

Bosso 0- Black Rhinos 0

Shooting Stars 0 – Bosso 0

Bosso 2 – Railstars 2

MasvingoA� 0- Bosso 1

Hwange 2-Bosso 4