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Erol Akbay

Ricky Zililo Senior Sports Reporter
STATISTICS don’t lie; Highlanders have hit rock bottom and there seems to be no end in sight.

At the weekend they suffered a 0-1 loss to ZPC Kariba, taking their winless streak to six games overlapping into the first half of the season.

Highlanders have had a pathetic second half of the season performance, managing just a point out of a possible 15.

The Bulawayo giants, who were among the championship favourites, are now battling to save their season, which appears to be headed for disaster.

Occupying position three with 32 points from 20 games, Highlanders trail leaders FC Platinum by 10 points and if they continue with their dismal performance they may soon lose their spot and slide further down.

Dynamos and ZPC Kariba, who are a point behind Bosso, are heavily breathing down on the Bulawayo giants.

The only other team that has had a woeful start to the second half of the season is Tsholotsho.

Tsholotsho, who lost 0-1 to defending champions Chicken Inn on Sunday, have collected a point in five games just like Highlanders. Tsholotsho’s point was won in Week 18 from a 3-3 stalemate with Mutare City Rovers.

Highlanders have lost four of their last five matches 0-1 to Caps United, a shock 1-2 defeat against Mutare City Rovers, 1-2 to Triangle United and 0-1 to ZPC Kariba. They drew 1-1 with Chicken Inn in Week 19.

Morale is reportedly low in the Highlanders camp and their supporters will be hoping Dutch coach Erol Akbay, his technical team and players come up with a plan to end their poor run.

Highlanders’ supporters have even forgotten how to celebrate as their last victory was on July 17 when they beat Caps United 1-0 at Barbourfields Stadium courtesy of a Bruce Kangwa strike.

Kangwa immediately left Bosso after that victory to join Tanzania giants Azam. His departure left a big void and Akbay seems to be struggling to come up with a system that can accommodate his players.

Bosso’s next match is against fired-up How Mine, a side that has collected the most points in the second half, 11 from a possible 15.

At the weekend, How Mine were held to a 1-1 draw by Chapungu and are enjoying a good run that might inspire them to victory against Highlanders.

While Bosso are struggling, leaders FC Platinum stretched their lead to five points after beating Triangle United 2-1 at Gibbo Stadium. Ex-Highlanders’ midfielder Nqobizitha Masuku and Tarisai Rukanda were on target for the platinum miners, while Tichaona Mapungwana scored for Triangle United.

Caps United’s quest to maintain pressure on FC Platinum took a knock when they were hammered 1-3 by Bulawayo City on Sunday.

City were all over the ambitious Harare side, who are second on the table with 37 points.

In the relegation battle, anchors Border Strikers continued with their survival journey, beating Ngezi Platinum 2-0 at Dulivhadzimu, while second from bottom Tsholotsho lost 0-1 to champions Chicken Inn.

Mutare City Rovers are a place above the drop zone and beat Hwange 2-1 at Sakubva.