Online Reporter
Innocent Kurira, Zimpapers Sports Hub
HIGHLANDERS interim coach Try Ncube’s debut in the hot seat ended in frustration as his side slumped to a 1–0 home loss against log leaders MWOS FC, exposing the same tactical flaws that have plagued the team all season: poor finishing, shaky defence, and a lack of composure in key moments.
The defeat at Barbourfields Stadium on Sunday afternoon leaves Bosso rooted in ninth place with 23 points. It also extended their winless run, piling more pressure on a side that continues to underperform despite visible effort on the pitch.
MWOS, in contrast, have hit their stride. Sunday’s win pushed them to the top of the Premier Soccer League standings with 37 points from 18 games, leapfrogging Simba Bhora, who dropped points the day before.
Ncube, who took over following Kelvin Kaindu’s departure, was left disappointed but not defeated. He pointed to the same issues that have haunted Highlanders for weeks, missed chances and defensive lapses.
“We are trying,” Ncube said during the post-match press conference. “I think the conversion rate has not been good, so we’re failing to strike a balance between defending well and finishing our chances. We made just one mistake and got punished for it. No disrespect to MWOS, they played well, but I don’t think they deserved all three points today.”
Though this was his first match as the main man on the bench, Ncube made it clear he’s no outsider.
“This wasn’t my ‘first’ game,” he said. “I’ve been with the team all along. It’s game number 18 for us. I can’t pretend this is something new; this is a team effort, and we need to rise as one and fight for results in the coming matches.”
The decisive moment came late. After soaking up pressure for most of the second half, the Highlanders cracked in the 87th minute. MWOS, well drilled and patient, capitalised on a defensive error to seal all three points. It was a body blow Bosso couldn’t recover from.
Still, there were glimpses of a fight. The team pushed hard, created openings, and worked with intensity, but the final pass and composure in front of the goal were lacking.
“I don’t think the players are mentally affected,” Ncube insisted. “They gave everything. From the first minute until that late error, they were fully committed. Mistakes happen in football. Even after conceding, we tried to come back, but confidence does dip when you concede so late.”
Looking ahead, the coach believes the answers lie in finishing, not formation.
“We’ll go back to the drawing board and focus on our finishing,” he said. “These are the same players who were scoring freely earlier in the season. They haven’t lost their ability. It’s just a matter of regaining confidence and rhythm.”
Elsewhere in the league, CAPS United were held to a 1–1 draw by Green Fuel at Rufaro Stadium, missing the chance to complete a season double over the visitors. Under Ian Bakala, CAPS have shown some positive spells, but inconsistency remains a problem.
At Gibbo Stadium, Triangle United and Scottland FC played out a goalless draw in a match lacking bite in the final third.
With the season now past its halfway point, the Highlanders’ problems are no longer early-season wrinkles; they’re turning into trends. For Ncube, the job now isn’t just tactical. It’s psychological, emotional, and urgent. Whether he can stop the slide remains to be seen, but the clock is ticking.
derick.khumalo