Online Reporter
Eddie Chikamhi
Scottland 0-0 Highlanders
HIGHLANDERS are proving one thing with certainty: they don’t give much away. But they’re not taking anything either. Four games without conceding, six games without a win, and yesterday at Rufaro they walked off like a team that had just done enough, not one still chasing its first victory of the season. That’s the conversation now — is this a side building something solid, or one stuck in neutral?
Coach Benjani Mwaruwari wasn’t interested in overthinking it. He took the point and backed his players.
“I think today’s game, the boys, they played so well. You know, coming to play with the champions, we all know Scottland. They are a very good team, with quality everywhere. To come away and get a point, I think today the point that we got, it’s a point gained. And one thing that I’m happy with my boys, is the consistency of not conceding. You know, we’ve gone like four games without conceding a goal. That’s consistent, and you can see that we are building on from there.”
He has a case. Scottland came in flying, nine goals in three games, brushing teams aside with ease, and Rufaro looked set for another statement. Bosso had other ideas. Even with a patched-up backline, they stood firm. Kuda Mahachi, Nomore Chinyerere, Andrew Mbeba and Brian Mlotshwa dug in, read the game well and refused to give Scottland the space they’ve been feeding on. Mbeba even gave them something to think about going forward, twice going close from set-pieces.
But the other side of Highlanders’ game keeps dragging them back — they don’t score. Reason Sibanda had the moment, clean through after a sharp pass from Mongameli Tshuma, just the goalkeeper to beat, but he pulled it wide. That was the chance. At the other end, Scottland should have punished them. Terrence Dzvukamanja slipped Walter Musona through, one-on-one with time to pick his spot. He tried to be cute, but the chip didn’t have enough on it and Aaron Ngwenya gathered without fuss. Another big moment gone.
Khama Billiat showed flashes, Aboubakar Moffat kept things ticking in midfield, and late on Moffat turned and hit one that rattled the upright with 13 minutes left. That was as close as anyone came. Scottland coach Norman Mapeza didn’t dress it up.
“It was a good game of football. We had moments where I think we did well. There were some moments in which I think Highlanders did well. But I think it was a game with chances for both teams. They had a good opportunity. Then we had a good opportunity to win the last 10 minutes of the first half. In the second half, I think the last 20 or so minutes, we did much better going forward. But look, it’s a game of football, we drew and we take the point.”
