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Ricky Zililo Senior Sports Reporter
A TIMELY wake-up call is what Highlanders FC got from Caps United after losing 2-1 in the Bob 91 Super Cup elimination match at Barbourfields Stadium on Sunday.

Highlanders lived to rue their failure to turn their dominance into goals, something that cost the club the championship in the last three seasons.

After settling early into the game, the Bulawayo giants gave their followers hope that they were going to register their first victory of the year with a superb 30-minute display where they dominated possession but failed to penetrate Caps United’s rearguard.

And with coach Bongani Mafu having promised that one day his charges would “smash” an opponent, the atmosphere at Emagumeni was electric from the first whistle with the home fans sensing their first victory of the year at Barbourfields Stadium. Unfortunately it did not happen.

Highlanders players were comfortable on the ball, knocking it around with aplomb, patiently building their attacks but came short in the final third.

For all their first half dominance, Highlanders only had two attempts at goal from speed merchant Gabriel Nyoni who got to the end of a sumptuous pass from Masuku in the 19th minute but failed to beat Caps United goalkeeper Victor Twaliki with a bender.

Five minutes later, Nyoni embarked on a solo run leaving three Caps United players for dead on the left side but Steven Makatuka recovered well to head away the striker’s goal bound shot.

Even the crosses that were sent from the wings found no takers in the box, something that left Mafu a worried man.

“On a positive note, the boys are beginning to play that entertaining style which I want and will bring crowds back into the stadium. The players are enjoying their football and so are the fans. My biggest worry is that we failed to score or even make many attempts at goal. There is a need to work on our finishing qualities and devise a way that will give our strikers room to play and take responsibility for making attempts at goal,” said Mafu.

Nyoni has proved to be an effective forward coming from the wing rather than playing as a central striker and even his 24th minute attempt came after he had drifted wide and left three Caps United players for dead.

Young Thomas Chideu is showing lots of promise and given time, he is likely to be a nightmare for most defenders.

Highlanders also have Obidiah Tarumbwa who got their consolation goal on Sunday when he coolly chipped the ball over Caps United’s goalkeeper Twaliki. Tarumbwa is still working on his fitness and once he regains his form, he will certainly be a handful.

Ozias Zibande and Simba Sithole did not play against Caps United as they had gone with the reserve side for a friendly match against Border Strikers in Beitbridge. The Highlanders reserves lost 1-0 to the border team.

Besides poor finishing which seems to be a perennial problem, Mafu also has to work on his wingers’ lack of recovery which exposes his fullbacks. There were countless times that saw either Bruce Kangwa or Rahman Kutsanzira venturing forward and not tracking back when they lost possession.

Mafu praised his youthful defence of Teenage Hadebe, Douglas Sibanda, Webster Chingodza and Honest Moyo.

“The defence will come right. They are young enough to improve,” he said.

“The players need encouragement from our supporters and we would like to apologise to our fervent fans for not giving them the victory they so much want. We invite them to keep coming as we work on our finishing.”

Mafu and his charges have limited time to get their strike force to fire on all cylinders as the league programme will be starting in a fortnight.

Judging from Caps United’s performance on Sunday, the Green Machine will no doubt be a team to beat this season.

They have already claimed the scalps of two giants Dynamos and Highlanders and have set their sights on handing DeMbare their second pre-season defeat when they face off in the Bob 91 Super Cup final.

The new Caps United coach Mark Harrison remains modest despite recording victories against the country’s top sides.

“It’s good to win but we are still building our team. We’re yet to reach the stage that we want but I feel we are on the right track. It will be good to beat Dynamos again but our aim is to make sure that we play exciting football which gives us results,” he said.

With veterans Leonard Tsipa and Roderick Mutuma leading their attack, as well as seasoned players in the form of Hardlife Zvirekwi, Moses Muchenje, Takudzwa Mahori, Steven Makatuka and Dominic Mukandi, Caps United have a formidable side.

It might be too early to judge them, but if they improve on their form and ride on the current crest, they will certainly be a team to beat.