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Knox Mutizwa

Sikhumbuzo Moyo Senior Sports Reporter
HIGHLANDERS striker Knox Mutizwa has dismissed claims that he was deliberately putting on below par performances for the Bulawayo giants to avoid picking up injuries ahead of his move to Absa Premiership side Bidvest Wits in July. The reigning Castle Lager Premiership Golden Boot winner says he would never sabotage Bosso by deliberately underperforming and statistics at hand actually disputed the allegations.

Mutizwa has scored three goals made two assists in the four games Highlanders have played in the league so far. He said his love for Highlanders was unparalleled as shown by his decision to renew his contract with them despite a huge interest from other clubs such as Caps United and FC Platinum.

“I had offers of up to $30,000 from local clubs because I no longer had a contract with Highlanders, but I told myself that if I move, it will be one of the biggest letdowns to our fans. I grew up at Highlanders and those South African guys had already shown interest in me and it meant if I had signed for either Caps United or FC Platinum, it was going to be one of them benefiting from my move and not Highlanders, a team that nurtured me, so I chose Highlanders,” said Mutizwa at his Pelandaba residence yesterday.

He said fans were probably expecting him to put every ball that he touched into the back of the net this season following his 2015 goal scoring exploits.

“What is happening is that all our opponents now plan their game around me. Their target is to ensure Knox does not get into dangerous positions or anywhere near the box. It was like that last year as they planned around Obidiah Tarumbwa and I would seize the opportunity and pounce. I have been telling Prince (Dube) to also take advantage of our opponents’ focus on me by punishing them,” said Mutizwa.

He was substituted in the drab 1-1 derby draw against Bulawayo City last Sunday following an out of sorts performance.

He said even head coach Erol Akbay has been urging him not to unnecessarily put himself under pressure in a bid to prove a point.

“I suspect that our supporters now expect me to score with every ball I touch, which is impossible really. What I know, however, is that with my scoring rate so far, a number of teams will suffer. I’m targeting playing 12 games before I leave and that must also translate into more than 12 goals. I did not score in two of our four league games and I’m not taking any pleasure in that. I have to rectify that failure. Someone will be unfortunate very soon,” Mutizwa said.

On Highlanders’ rather below performance so far this season in which they have dropped five points at Barbourfields Stadium by losing to FC Platinum and drawing against Bulawayo City, Mutizwa admitted that the team had not yet gelled according to the coach’s wishes, but said they were slowly getting there.

“All we need now is just to win two games in a row and the rest will be history. At the moment we’ve not had that consistency,” he said.

Highlanders take on Chapungu at Barbourfields Stadium this Sunday before travelling to Baobab Stadium to face Ngezi Platinum in Mhondoro.