adminLovemore Dube Sports Editor
RESPECTED Bulawayo soccer coach Cosmas Zulu believes Triangle FC could have fared better against Highlanders yesterday had they not employed negative tactics. “I think with all due respect for them, had Triangle come with the right tactics and attitude, they could have done better. They should have concentrated and thought football for the entire 90 minutes which is what they are employed to do. Gishon Ntini as coach should have concentrated on tactics on how to beat Highlanders.
“There is a need for the education of both players and coaches on good practices which should cultivate good habits, but these bad habits they now have will be permanent at the end and ruin their careers,” said Zulu last night who was among 5 000 fans who thronged Barbourfields Stadium.
The former national Under-17 coach said he was also disappointed with Highlanders’ tactical maturity.
“I was a little bit disappointed with the tactical maturity of the Highlanders technical staff. For instance, Triangle had seven players on the field, one near the corner, Misheck Mburayi up field and five defenders in the box.
Instead of playing a short corner and subtracting opponents to create a clear finishing opportunity, the Highlanders players were playing long corners. At one stage they called Mthulisi Maphosa back and they were almost six guys marking Mburayi, a waste of attacking resources. I failed to understand what they were up to,” said Zulu.
He also bemoaned the absence of striker Njabulo Ncube, saying the absence of the burly striker had robbed the team of the structural shape and skill to create good finishing opportunities in the final third.
Zulu said Ncube’s availability in the match against Harare City on Sunday in the capital could be the defining moment for Bosso’s charge towards the title.
He challenged travelling coaches to be positive and give fans good value for hard earned cash.
Online Reporter