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Peter Dube

Sikhumbuzo Moyo Senior Sports Reporter
HIGHLANDERS chairman Peter Dube, has finally conceded that there is a crisis at the football club and has called on all bona fide supporters to rally behind the team to ensure that it gets back on its feet.

Bosso fell to its fifth consecutive defeat at the hands of Hwange who beat them 3-1 at the Colliery Stadium to remain winless since acting head coach Mark Mathe took over the reins from Zambian Kelvin Kaindu.

Highlanders took the lead but went on to lose. They have now conceded eight goals in three matches while scoring just a single goal.

“Our house is burning and during such times it is the real Bosso sons and daughters who will rally behind the team to make sure it gets back on its feet again,” said Dube.

He added:

“It’s a cause for concern and we all want to turn things around. If it has happened before of which it has, it’s the Highlanders people that have come around and lifted the team up. We are still hopeful that we will turn the corner but let everyone put their heads together and let this institution come around again,” said Dube.

He said people must accept that the institution has corrective measures that have worked before, insisting that it was an open secret that everyone wanted to see Highlanders doing well.

“We are, at this time, calling for calm in the family and let everyone come together for the good of the club. We are also aware that when a house is burning, like ours, all those with interest in it will try and come up with measures and ways to put down the fire but in the process some might actually throw objects that might even fuel the fire in a bid to put it out because of the love of the house,” said Dube whose post is up for grabs next year.

The losses have been felt even by the players with leading goalscorer Charles Sibanda, who was dropped for the Hwange match, posting on his Facebook wall, “Okunje asazi sokufunani” while dreadlocked midfielder Welcome Ndiweni could only afford to say, “Bro asisakwazi thina.”

Former Highlanders striker, Abraham Mbaiwa also posted an inquisitive post on his page, “ maBosso kwenzenjani?”

With the defeat, Highlanders remained rooted on position seven on the table with 39 points while Chipangano climbed to fourth and if they maintain their position, they will be in the semi-finals of the Mbada Diamonds Cup.

Bosso are still mathematically in the relegation group unless they pick up maximum points against relegated Chiredzi at home on Sunday.

While Highlanders are down and out, old nemesis Dynamos continued to slip away from the rest when they opened a three point lead at the top following a 5-3 win over Harare City, a match that also saw the Glamour Boys conceding three goals for the first time this season.

The title race is now virtually a two-horse race as ZPC Kariba choked up a 3-1 win over Moses Chunga’s Buffaloes. The two sides will be meeting on Sunday in a top of the table clash at Rufaro Stadium with the Saul Chaminuka side set to leap to the top of the table if they manage to shock DeMbare. The electricity men have scored 35 goals while Dynamos are four shy.

How Mine, under Luke Masomere, a man who calls himself the “Doctor of football”, shocked fellow miners Shabanie Mine 3-1 in the absence of hitman Kuda Musharu. Both leading marksmen, Musharu and Charles Sibanda were inactive this weekend due to suspension and disciplinary measures respectively.

The gold miners are now on 36 points, three shy of Highlanders and can actually finish the season ahead of Highlanders. Masomere is actually yet to lose a league match since joining How Mine from Buffaloes and has maintained that he is building a team for next year and was not at all thinking of relegation.

At Hartsfield Grounds, Chicken Inn and Triangle played to a 1-1 draw in a very scrappy match but the visitors still remained rooted in the relegation bracket although coach Biggie Zuze put up a brave face and wants to make full use of home ground. He plays his last three games at home.

“We have been doing well on the road but now that we are left with home games, we want to take advantage of that and collect maximum points,” said Zuze in his post match interview on Sunday.

The club has since hired Zambian Kelvin Kaindu but sources said he is yet to start work as he awaits his work permit.