Online Reporter
Robson Sharuko
Metros Editor
HIGHLANDERS became the first team to breach the Scottland defence in 954 minutes of action but did the Bosso winner come from a goal that should not have stood?
Nigerian forward, Benjamin Odeogun, whose first name has a similar ringing tone to the first name of his coach Benjani Mwaruwari, struck the decisive goal in the first half at Barbourfields on Sunday.
He found space on the blind side to tap home a lovely pass from the impressive Mongameli Tshuma, whose superb vision located his teammate, and presented Odeogun with his golden chance.
Scottland players immediately protested, arguing that the Nigerian was in an offside position.
Television replays appear to support their claims that Odeogun could have strayed into an offside position.
Given that most of the television replays of the domestic Premiership games are usually one-sided angles, shot from a single position, it becomes difficult to suggest, with certainty, whether a player was offside or not in very tight calls.
The referees gave Bosso the benefit of doubt and by the end of an afternoon, in which both teams gave as much as they got in a tough battle, Benjani sealed the biggest win of his coaching career on the domestic front.
Given that Scottland had won their last nine games on the trot, and had not conceded a goal in their previous ten games, this was a massive victory for Benjani and his Bosso project.
Just to prevent the champions from scoring at Barbourfields on Sunday was a huge effort by Benjani’s men who defended their fortress with everything they could throw at their opponents.
The Harare side arrived at Barbourfields having scored an average of 2,5 goals per game in their nine wins on the trot in which they had scored 23 goals and conceded none.
But they found a Bosso side inspired by the need to ensure they would protect their record, set twenty years ago, in which they won nine games on the trot, on their way to their last league championship in 2006.
It’s a record which Scottland matched before their arrival at Barbourfields.
Bosso have now added Benjani’s son, Benjani Jnr, to their ranks and they will be hoping the speedy winger can make the same impact which his father is slowly, but steadily, making.
The former Warriors skipper was not a popular choice when he arrived to coach his boyhood club but, after 23 games, it’s fair to say that he has managed to force many of those who doubted him to start having second thoughts.
Given all the financial challenges, which his men have faced during this campaign, Benjani has been writing a refreshing feel-good story at Bosso in a year Highlanders are celebrating their century of existence.
What has stood out has been the way Highlanders have performed well in the games against the heavyweights of the league (both the traditional giants and the ambitious newboys whose arrival have changed the game’s landscape).
Benjani’s Bosso have only lost once against these teams when they went down 1-2 at the hands of CAPS United at Barbourfields on April 26 this season.
They have picked four out of a possible six points against Scottland and will finish the season unbeaten against the champions in their league battles.
They avoided defeat in both games, home and away, against former champions Dynamos, FC Platinum and Simba Bhora.
Benjani’s men beat MWOS, who were one of the best clubs in the league last season, and finished as runners-up, 2-1, at Ngoni.
Their only league match against former champions Ngezi Platinum Stars ended in a goalless draw this season.
Bosso also inflicted a home defeat, 1-0, over Hardrock at Chahwanda.
They are the only club in the league right now to have beaten the two clubs who are leading the championship race – Scottland and Hardrock.
Mathew Masinge