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Ricky Zililo Senior Sports Reporter
HIGHLANDERS coach, Bongani Mafu has urged his players to forget about their controversial defeat against Dynamos and instead focus on their next crucial encounter against Triangle United.

Bosso welcome the Eastern Lowveld side this Sunday at Barbourfields Stadium smarting from the 2-3 defeat to defending league champions Dynamos.

The Bulawayo giants resumed training yesterday with the players sweating it out at New Lobengula ground.

Mafu said the officiating howler would have just been a secondary matter had his backline been tight.

Bosso’s defence has been rather sloppy, conceding 13 goals in 14 outings, at a rate of almost one goal a game.

The Highlanders gaffer said had the defence been tight, Bosso could have won against DeMbare as all their their goals were gifted through sloppy defending.

“I’m not happy that we are still conceding easy goals. We took the lead and let them come back as the defenders watched the opponent controlling the ball before shooting. They then went ahead after we reacted slowly to a rebound but we managed to draw level. As for the third goal, it stayed in the air for a long time and I believe we could have avoided it. Now we have to sort out our defending,” said Mafu.

“I told my players this morning that we don’t want to continue talking about the referee from the Dynamos game or the result as that is now history and we have to focus on free-scoring Triangle United. I told them that we should have won that game and that goal only denied us a point. I’ve vented my anger on match officiating and now the issue is with the authorities.”

Bosso’s backline against Dynamos was made up of centre backs Honest Moyo and skipper Erick Mudzingwa, with Webster Chingodza at right back and Bruce Kangwa at left back.

Mafu seems to have struck the right offensive combinations and the problem now is dealing with its leakages.

Some of the contenders for central defensive duties include national Under-23 player Teenage Hadebe, Douglas Sibanda and Felix Chindungwe.

Hadebe and Sibanda sat on the bench against DeMbare while Chindungwe failed to make it into the team.

Mafu spoke highly of the calibre of his squad, which took long to gel inviting the supporters’ ire.

“I think we have a good team that has taken time to play the kind of football that we are capable of. Even though we are letting in soft goals, I believe that my defenders are good and the mistakes that they are making are because of either low confidence or lack of awareness, otherwise they are brilliant guys,” Mafu said.

The Bosso coach is justified to demand utmost concentration from his defenders if they intend to turn around the team’s fortunes in the second half of the season, starting with the Triangle encounter.

Triangle have scored 30 goals, the highest number in the league at this stage.

The Lowveld club is coached by ex-Highlanders coach Kelvin Kaindu, who will be facing his former paymasters for the first time this season.

Kaindu had a warm reception in Bulawayo earlier this season when his team took on Chicken Inn in a 0-0 game.

Their visit to Bulawayo comes at a good time from a Highlanders’ perspective as Bosso appear to have hit the right groove if their last three games are anything to go by.

Against Dynamos, Bosso probably played their best football this season, winning admiration of soccer fans despite ending up with no point due to blundering officiating.

First assistant referee, Bongani Gadzikwa denied the Bulawayo side a clear goal in the 80th minute by flagging Edmore Muzanenhamo for offside.

Bosso, who were dominant at that stage, could have snatched a deserved draw or even a possible victory had that goal stood.

Although the referees’ committee has now suspended Gadzikwa, the result stands and Bosso’s losing streak against their fierce Harare-based rivals continues piling up.

Fixtures

Saturday: ZPC Kariba v Tsholotsho FC (Nyamhunga), Flame Lily v Harare City (Lafarge), Chapungu v FC Platinum (Ascot)

Sunday: Caps United v Chicken Inn (National Sports Stadium), Dongo Sawmill v Whawha (Vhengere), Hwange v Dynamos (Colliery), Highlanders v Triangle United (Barbourfields), Buffaloes v How Mine (Sakubva)