BOSSO’S FRESH PRINCE… Young sensation spurs Highlanders in big win Prince Dube
Prince Dube

Prince Dube

Ricky Zililo Senior Sports Reporter—
PRINCE Dube, 19, chose the big stage to demonstrate his exceptional talents and underline his status as one of the country’s emerging strikers when he spurred Highlanders to their first league win against bitter rivals Dynamos in a decade. On Saturday, Highlanders put an amazing show as they piled the pressure on Dynamos whom they beat 2-0 in a Castle Lager Premier Soccer League match.

What made the victory even sweeter as Bosso broke the 10-year jinx was that the league win that had eluded the Bulawayo giants in the last decade was registered at Rufaro, Dynamos’ favourite hunting ground. Going into Saturday’s game, Highlanders’ last victory against Dynamos was on July 30, 2006 when they emerged 2-0 victors at Barbourfields Stadium.

Johannes Ngodzo, now Bantu Rovers coach, created the two goals then, when he delivered perfect crosses from corner kicks on either sides of the half which were converted by leftback Vusa Nyoni in the sixth and 59th minutes.

On six minutes, Ngodzo sent a low corner kick into the box and Nyoni was quick to the ball finishing it off with a grounder that beat Dynamos goalkeeper Witness Munkuli.

Nyoni then completed his brace in the 59th minute. Bosso won a corner and Ngodzo went behind the ball flighting a beauty which captain Gilbert Banda missed but luckily Nyoni was alert to beat Munkuli with a firm header to seal the day’s scoring.

That victory took Highlanders’ points tally to 43, 12 more than second placed Hwange who had lost 1-2 at home to now defunct Lancashire Steel. Fast forward to Saturday, May 28, and young Prince Dube, who was eight years old when Highlanders last beat Dynamos 10 years ago, chose to explode at Rufaro.

The Real Prince as Highlanders supporters call him, sent Bosso fans into delirium in the second half with a perfect rising shot that beat Dynamos and national team goalkeeper Tatenda Mukuruva at the near post.

His timing to beat the offside trap and get to the end of a Knox Mutizwa pass was perfect and the young lad, whose performances at Bosso earned him a Young Warriors call up, struck the ball with precision on the run.

“I couldn’t believe it when the ball hit the back of the net. I’m still speechless but at the same time happy that I’ve become part of the squad that has made history by breaking the jinx. I wasn’t there when they failed to beat Dynamos but the senior guys who knew the pain have been very supportive and urged me to just concentrate on my game and show what I’m made of. This victory is for the team, the coaches, management and fans who’ve made my stay at the club comfortable,” said Dube.

Dube was playing his seventh game for Highlanders, having missed last weekend’s match due to national duty. To cap his fine Saturday afternoon at Rufaro, Dube, who now has four goals to his account, provided an assist to seasoned utility player Bruce Kangwa.

Dube’s perfect delivery into the box from the right was headed by Kangwa with the ball deflecting off Dynamos’ central defender Sydney Linyama and in the process beating goalkeeper Mukuruva at the near post.

Kangwa, who joined Bosso in 2009 and is with the national team preparing for the Warriors’ 2017 Afcon qualifier against Malawi said: “We’ve been waiting for this victory for some time. It feels great to beat Dynamos and this is a victory that we know as players is going to last for a long time in Highlanders’ family. What made the victory even special is that I had a feeling that I was going to score since Tuesday and I told myself that the goal that I’ll score will win us the game and it really deflated Dynamos.”

Just like Dube, Kangwa missed last weekend’s 1-1 draw against Harare City. The winger was not in the team because of an injury, but to return into action with a goal is special to him.

The victory against Dynamos saw Bosso moving back to position two from five and they are now on 17 points, three behind table toppers FC Platinum who are on 20 from eight outings.

Week Eight Results
Wednesday: Bulawayo City 1-0 Ngezi Platinum Stars, ZPC Kariba 1-0 Hwange, Border Strikers 1-0 Tsholotsho FC, Chicken Inn 1-2 Caps United, Triangle United 3-1 Mutare City Rovers

Thursday: How Mine 0-0 FC Platinum

Friday: Harare City 0-0 Chapungu

Saturday: Dynamos 0-2 Highlanders

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