Zimpapers Logo

Highlanders head coach Erol Akbay (left) with technical director Cosmas Zulu at a weekly Press conference yesterday

Raymond Jaravaza, Sports Correspondent
THE Highlanders technical department is worried about the security of their jobs in the face of a six-match winless run that has seen the Bulawayo giants dropping off the title radar.

Bosso last tasted victory against Caps United in a match that closed the first half of the season on July 17.

Bosso are still third on the league table, but that is little security to guarantee the jobs of head coach Erol Akbay, assistant Amini Soma-Phiri and technical director Cosmas Zulu.

“We are worried about our jobs. There is no football club that will keep a technical department which continues to lose games. As coaches, we are worried that our jobs might be on the line, that is the naked truth,” said Zulu, who also doubles up as goalkeepers’ coach, at the club’s weekly press conference yesterday.

The poor run of form has forced Zulu and Akbay to intensify the team’s training schedule by including a Saturday training session.

In the past, the team trained from Tuesday to Friday then camped on Saturday afternoon in preparation for a Sunday match.

“We will start including Saturday morning in our training schedule to maximise on the time we spend with the players. The players will be required to report for camp on Saturday morning for a full training day followed by an overnight camp,” said Zulu.

Head coach Akbay believes a top four target that was set by the Bosso executive when he took over the coaching role at the beginning of the year is still within reach.

“When we were winning, the target was to go all the way and fight for the top spot, but with the way we have been playing, finishing in the top four has become our top priority. I’m no longer worried about playing good football, all I want is to start winning; it’s about getting the results now,” said Akbay.

Veteran striker Ralph Matema has been ruled out of this Sunday’s league clash with How Mine after picking up a knock in training. He showed up at Wednesday’s training session with a swollen knee.

Bosso face How Mine at Barbourfields Stadium hoping to bounce back from a 0-1 defeat to ZPC Kariba last Saturday.

Highlanders are on 32 points, just a point ahead of perennial rivals Dynamos.

The title race seems out of reach for the Bulawayo giants who have been struggling upfront since losing Bruce Kangwa to Tanzanian super rich club Azam and Knox Mutizwa to South African Absa Premiership side Bidvest Wits.