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Bongani Mafu

Lovemore Dube Senior Sports Editor
HIGHLANDERS FC coach Bongani Mafu yesterday described his team’s 1-1 draw against Africa Safari bound FC Platinum on Saturday as a good footballing experience.Bosso came from a goal down to force a draw against a better organised side that showed better cohesion in all departments.

FC Platinum leave for Kenya this week to take on Sofapaka in a Caf Confederation Cup preliminary round tie on Sunday.

Mafu said it was good to have faced a team like FC Platinum. He said they are still way off the mark as Highlanders but is hopeful that within the next three to four weeks they will have rectified their weaknesses to wage a good fight in the Castle Lager Premiership.

“It was a good footballing experience. We were able to cope with a team as organised and disciplined like FC Platinum. We’re still in bits and pieces,” said Mafu.

He said the visitors showed at Barbourfields Stadium on Saturday that their players were at home and in comfort zone. Since they have been registered for Africa all know they are part of the team while his are yet to be confirmed and that element of uncertainty could have taken its toll on some who tried hard to impress.

“All their players are secure. In ours there’s still an element of doubt,” said the Bosso coach.

He praised his lads for positional discipline after losing Webster Chingodza for a second bookable offence.

“We were able to show positional discipline and I was impressed to see Welcome Ndiweni before I could issue an instruction reverting to that position left by Chingodza. I want players who assume responsibility on the field.

“Overally we aren’t too far behind. Once we trim the squad to 30, we will have better workouts and improve in the next three to four weekends before the league kicks off,” said Mafu.

Highlanders played a game of two halves. They seemed out of it in the first and had a better showing containing the numerically superior visitors before going on to score through Bruce Kangwa. He has shown good potential in attack though he needs to provide a killer pass and a perfect cross as most of them end up on the terraces.

Julius Daudi has settled well while big defender Douglas Sibanda should be more commanding vocally, organising his men.

Tendai Ngulube has also impressed in an anchoring role.

Creativity remains a big challenge in attack with clear signs that the way the club is playing may prove difficult for any striker to score goals.

FC Platinum were under Patrick Mandizha in the absence of Norman Mapeza who is attending a Caf A Licence course in Harare.

His side showed good organisational ability, team work and were able to initiate attacks with ease from either flank through the midfield where Thabani Kamusoko continues to shine.

Even their young players were able to adapt to the demanding match and this could have been good practice ahead of their Kenya match.