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Lovemore Dube Senior Sports Editor
VETERAN football coach Cosmas Zulu has tipped the Castle Lager Premiership leading marksman Charles Sibanda to top the 20-goal mark.Zulu who has witnessed the star player’s progression from Entumbane’s dusty patches since Sibanda was at primary school, speaks highly of the Highlanders striker. He says the forward has few peers in terms of effectiveness in the box and with better ball supply he could with ease score more than 20 goals.
“He is an intelligent player in the box. He uses his brains and positions himself well for a good finish and he just does not drive the ball in between the posts but looks at the position of the goalkeeper before he drills his effort.
“Highlanders will get more from him from that free role he is playing,” said Zulu.
Sibanda has so far scored 10 goals and it could have been eleven if the referee who officiated their win over Buffaloes in Mutare had credited him with the third, an effort that deflected off an opponent.
“He has hit a hattrick and it could be two by now,” said Zulu who has coached at some of the country’s biggest clubs.
Zulu said he recommended Sibanda to Highlanders in 2009 under Madinda Ndlovu.
“Unfortunately, things did not go well then. But I said to him one day he would return to the side and he has come back with a bang to deliver,” said Zulu.
With 15 games played in the Premiership, fans are obviously expecting more from Sibanda in the second half. In previous seasons 2012/13 Highlanders have led the log and goals charts only to see Dynamos pip them to the title on a superior goal difference.
Highlanders have managed to stay at the top of the table despite playing inconsistently with a leaky defence which is very weak on the flanks where cover should be considered a priority for Bruce Kangwa and Simon Munawa.
Most of the goals they have conceded in the last two seasons have come through the flanks.
Online Reporter