Chronicle Editor
Ricky Zililo, Senior Sports Reporter
HIGHLANDERS need to have strong character and give a good fight in their remaining matches to make it back into the top four, their coach Baltemar Brito says.
Bosso were pushed out of the top four last weekend by Ngezi Platinum Stars, slipping to position five with 45 points following their 3-2 defeat to FC Platinum at Barbourfields Stadium.
Ngezi, who clobbered ZPC Kariba 3-0 are in fourth place with 46 points and can hold on to that position if they win their away match at Harare City tomorrow.
Highlanders, who have had mixed fortunes in the second half of the season, blowing hot and cold, are left with tricky encounters which makes their top four finish a dreaded dream.
Bosso take on Chicken Inn on Sunday at Barbourfields Stadium, an encounter that will be followed by a home tie against Bulawayo Chiefs, after that they have an away trip to Dynamos before coming back to host ZPC Kariba and cap the season with a road journey to Harare City.
Brito conceded that the dream to finish in the top four will require his charges to fight harder and should be ready for a stern test of character.
“It’s (top four finish) tough. As Highlanders we know we have to be strong to finish in the top four,” said Brito.
The Brazilian gaffer feels match officials’ “mistakes” have affected their quest for a top four finish.
“I don’t know why people are pushing Highlanders out of the top four. We know it will be hard to fight for a top four, but in the last two games we lost five points. Since we arrived, we’ve never spoken about match officials and we don’t want to do so, but at Cranborne Bullets (where they drew 1-1), we had conceded a penalty that we can confirm by image that it wasn’t a penalty. In the last game against FC Platinum, our players did well to fight for a 2-2 or even a draw, but our striker Lynoth Chikuhwa was hit by an elbow inside the box but the referee didn’t blow the whistle. Peter Muduhwa didn’t foul the FC Platinum player resulting in that free kick that led to their third goal and we can prove through video that it wasn’t a foul.
“But all that is history, I take the blame for the wrong approach to the games that we’ve lost. The fault for the wrong approach is ours, not the fault of players or referees but can prove by videos that in the last two games we lost five points we shouldn’t have,” Brito said.
About the weekend game, the Highlanders coach believes that if his charges show the zeal and hunger that they had in the second half against FC Platinum then they can snatch maximum points against second placed Chicken Inn.
“It’s a derby but Chicken Inn doesn’t have a crowd like other big derbies. It will be a game we know we are playing at Barbourfields, our opponents won’t have supporters to push them. If we’re positive to the game, if we’re stronger mentally we can do well.
“We’re confident of a good result. The second half of the last game gave us a good feeling and it’s about that good feeling that we want to do well in the Chicken Inn game,” Brito said.
Bosso will be without central defender Mbongeni Ndlovu and central midfielder Darlington Mukuli for Sunday’s encounter as the duo serve suspension following accumulation of three yellow cards each.
Brito might be forced to shift Andrew Mbeba from right back to partner Muduhwa at central defence, with Crispen Ncube coming into the starting 11 at wing back. Adrian Silla or Mason Mushore could be assigned in Mukuli’s role.
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