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Sikhumbuzo Moyo Senior Sports Reporter
HIGHLANDERS FC skipper Ariel Sibanda has appealed to their supporters to forgive them for their lethargic performance during the second half of the season that saw Bosso slip from championship contenders to relegation candidates.

The goalkeeper, with a chance of making it into the Soccer Stars of the Year calendar when selectors meet in Harare tomorrow, thanked their fans for rallying behind them during trying times that under normal circumstances would have seen them playing in empty stadia.

Ahead of their last league match of the season against Chapungu at Hartsfield Stadium on Sunday, Sibanda also revealed that the squad has had meetings with leading marksman Charles Sibanda to assure him of their support and belief that he could land the Golden Boot Award.

Sibanda is tied with How Mine’s Kuda Musharu on 12 goals. Musharu’s team is away to Dynamos and the tall forward has already been quoted in some sections of the media saying he intends to land the lethal boot award.

“We all feel that we have let our passionate fans down and want to apologise to them. It’s known that our supporters were expecting a much better performance from us this year but things just crumbled right in front of us,” said Sibanda.

He added: “Their support though has been a source of strength for us and it’s really appreciated.”

The former Plumtree High School student, who graduated from the juniors, said they were determined to end the season on a high note so that their supporters have something to smile about, even if their victory would be inconsequential.

“Some might say there could be nothing to play for on Sunday but to us, we have everything to play for, our supporters. To them a Highlanders win is always remembered fondly whether it’s a competitive match or friendly and this is what we want to give them on Sunday,” said the Highlanders goal minder.

Highlanders can still finish the season on fifth position if both Chicken Inn and Hwange lose their away matches.

The Gamecocks travel to the capital for a date with relegation candidates and losing Chibuku Super Cup finalists Harare City while Chipangano are also on the road to take on Buffaloes at Sakubva Stadium.

The skipper also believes the match will present a perfect opportunity for their teammate Charles Sibanda to wheel away from Musharu in the scorers’ charts.

“We keep on encouraging him to believe in himself and he seems to be taking our advice, even during a match we always try to make sure he is in a good position to score so that we also have one of us getting a prize. Personally, I have all the confidence that he will land it and call upon our fans to come in numbers and give him all the moral support needed to lift him up against Chapungu,” said Sibanda.

Sibanda’s 12th goal was away to former paymasters FC Platinum in August.

Fixtures

Sunday: Harare City v Chicken Inn (Rufaro), Triangle United v Shabanie Mine (Gibbo), Black Rhinos v Bantu Rovers (Rimuka ),Buffaloes v Hwange (Sakubva), FC Platinum v Chiredzi (Mandava), Highlanders v Chapungu (Hartsfield), ZPC Kariba v Caps United (Gwanzura, SS9), Dynamos v How Mine (National Sports Stadium)

Table

P W D L F A Pts

ZPC Kariba 29 15 11 3 40 23 56

Dynamos 29 15 9 5 32 18 54

Caps Utd 29 14 8 7 35 25 50

FC Platinum 29 12 12 5 31 19 48

Chicken Inn 29 12 8 9 31 26 44

Hwange 29 11 9 9 37 27 42

Highlanders 29 11 9 9 36 29 42

How Mine 29 10 10 9 33 31 40

Chapungu 29 9 10 10 30 28 37

Triangle 29 10 7 12 35 38 37

Buffaloes 29 10 6 13 30 42 36

Shabanie 29 9 8 12 32 37 35

Harare City 29 10 5 14 38 44 35

Black Rhinos 29 9 7 13 19 28 34

Bantu Rovers 29 6 7 16 27 45 25

Chiredzi 29 3 6 19 16 43 15