Zimpapers Logo

Sikhumbuzo Moyo Senior Sports Reporter
Highlanders FC 0-0 Buffaloes
HIGHLANDERS dropped two crucial points when they were held by visiting Mutare side Buffaloes in an evenly balanced Castle Lager Premiership match at Hartsfield Grounds yesterday.
However, had Bosso been more precise and composed in front of goal, the script could be different but at the end of 90 minutes it was the defence of skipper Innocent Mapuranga, Dumisani Fazo Ndlovu, Bruce Kangwa, Erick Mudzingwa and back in form Ariel Sibanda who kept another clean sheet for the third consecutive league match. Bosso kept clean sheets against Triangle and FC Platinum prior to yesterday’s match.

It was as early as the first minute that burly Njabulo Ncube shielded the visitors’ defender Liberty Chakerema inside the 12-yard box and as he prepared to go for the kill, referee Philani Ncube who had a rather bad day in office, blew for an infringement against Ncube.

Buffaloes, whose coach Moses Chunga described Bosso as a pack of lions led by a sheep, were not intimidated and immediately charged forward and forced a corner kick which was taken by Mike Nyamukasa. The corner kick though was headed away by Kangwa.

Three minutes later Buffaloes were asking questions again in the Bosso final third, this time an ill-conceived offside trap by Mapuranga saw Buffaloes captain and former Bosso player Jacob Muzokomba breaking through and charging forward.

Sibanda moved forward to narrow the angle at the exact time that Muzokomba was releasing the ball. The ball went beneath Sibanda with a slight touch but an alert Ndlovu cleared from the line with the visitors’ bench celebrating.

Bosso realised the mess they were putting themselves in and started knocking the ball around or trying to dribble with winger Rahman Kutsanzira giving his marker Kudzai Mwaramba some torrid moments everytime he got the ball.

A speculative low ball by Kutsanzira through the visitors’ central defence saw speed merchant Gabriel Nyoni robbing Nyamukasa of the ball inside the box but the Bosso forward shot weakly at goal, giving Itayi Chiwara, in goal for Buffaloes, no problem at all.

After half an hour Highlanders cried foul after Nyoni was hacked down by Liberty as he raced towards goal and the first assistant referee Oscar Phume raised his flag to signal an infringement. Referee Ncube pointed to the spot but after consulting Phume who was closer to the action, changed his mind and awarded Highlanders a freekick right on the edge of the box which appeared the right decision.

The decision was spot on yes but Liberty should have been given a yellow card.
The resultant freekick was fluffed by Kangwa as he skied his effort. It was to be the last real action of the first half.

When the second half resumed, Bosso’s Nyoni also continued with his terror upfront which however yielded ‘aahs and hoohs’ from the fans than goals on the field.
Kelvin Kaindu was the first to make a substitution, taking out ineffective Ncube for young Kudzanai Machazane in the 54th minute and two minutes later a hard working Hillary Madzivanyika was taken out for Simon Munawa who failed to live up to it.

Madzivanyika was combining well with man of the moment for Bosso Felix Chindungwe who seems to have patented the anchorman’s position now. Madzivanyika had all along reduced Tafadzwa Mombeshora to an ordinary player in the midfield but once out, the long legged Mombeshora started being visible.

In the 55th minute, just before Munawa came in, Highlanders could have gone one up when Joel Ngodzo spotted a running Kutsanzira and switched play from the right to the left side. Kutsanzira pushed forward for about two metres before letting loose a pile driver that Chiwara failed to handle once but did so on the second chance.

Bosso were now on song and three minutes later Josta let loose a lawnmower in a crowded box and with the goalkeeper in the opposite end, Kutsanzira, in an effort to turn hero, re-directed the ball over the bar.

Chunga made a double substitution in the 70th minute, taking out Nyamukasa and Machazane for Admire Dzumbunu and Phillip Thembani respectively.
The visitors had two misses in succession as they sought to bury a wasteful Highlanders, both falling on Muzvokomba.

Seven minutes before time, a Kangwa freekick was acrobatically tipped for a corner by Chiwara with the resultant corner kick finding Nyoni’s header but the player could not believe it when his effort hit the cross bar.

That marked Bosso’s day and confirmed two points dropped for them and a point gained for the visitors.
“It’s unfortunate we failed to score despite creating numerous chances. We lacked aggression on set pieces especially corner kicks and with a little bit of composure we could have done the trick,” said a clearly dejected Kaindu.

Asked whether he thought Highlanders were still in the running, the Zambian gave an emphatic answer; “Yes we are still in,”.
Chunga praised his charges for the point gained.

“We came here for a win but we will take the draw, credit to the boys though,” he said.

Teams
Highlanders: A Sibanda, E Mudzingwa, I Mapuranga, B Kangwa, D Ndlovu (W Chingodzo 65th min), B Kangwa, H Madzivanyika (S Munawa 56th min), F Chindungwe, R Kutsanzira, J Ngodzo, N Ncube (K Machazane 54th min)
Buffaloes: I Chiwara, K Mwaramba, K Thembani, C Liberty, T Mombeshora, P Chandisaita, M Nyamukasa (A Dzumbunu 70th min), L Katongomara, K Juwakinyu, J Muzvokomba, M Machazane (P Thembani 70th min)

Results
Chapungu 3 -1 Chicken Inn
Dynamos 2 – 0 Chiredzi
Highlanders 0 – 0 Buffaloes
Black Rhinos 1- 0 Harare City
Triangle United 2- 0 FC Platinum