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Innocent Kurira
Sports Reporter
HIGHLANDERS assistant coach Joel Luphahla has pointed to the lack of depth in their side, as one of the reasons behind the Bosso train going off the rail midway into the Castle Lager Premier Soccer League campaign.
After a decent start, which saw the Bulawayo giants go on a 19-game unbeaten run, things took a turn for the worst on match day 20, when they lost to FC Platinum in Zvishavane.
The loss allowed Ngezi Platinum Stars to narrow the gap by two points and move in to eventually dislodge Highlanders.
Highlanders were toppled from the summit by Ngezi Platinum, after a 0-2 defeat to Chicken Inn at Barbourfields.
Bosso finished in fifth place with 14 wins, 13 draws and seven losses.
Their points tally of 55 is however better than last season, when they had 51 and still finished fifth.
“At the beginning of the season, no one would have given us a chance,” said Luphahla.
“Even when I was reading through the newspapers, we were dubbed as the first coaches that will be sacked.
“To go for 19 games unbeaten was a plus for us.
“We had players who suffered injuries and one of our best players Devine Mhindirira was out. All this factored into how we faltered during this season.”
Godfrey Makaruse and Darlington Mukuli suffered injuries that ruled them out for the season.
Forward Calvin Chigonero was in and out of the team, also owing to injury.
“If you look at Ngezi Platinum, when they make a substitution, their football does not go down meaning they have a better squad compared to us,” said Luphahla.
“We saw against Ngezi Platinum that Talent Dube and Prince Ndlovu played well.
“Gillian Nyathi is one of the best players in the team right now and these are all from Bosso ‘90.
“We are hoping the young boys, and the return of the players who are injured, will help us have a strong team,” said Luphahla.
Online Reporter