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Kudakwashe Mahachi

Sikhumbuzo Moyo Senior Sports Reporter
KUDAKWASHE Mahachi is the only latest acquisition to have adapted well to the Highlanders system while the other recruits are still struggling to gel into the club’s way of playing.This was said by former Highlanders player and manager Amin Soma-Phiri after the 5-6 sudden death penalty loss to FC Platinum that the Bulawayo giants suffered in the semi-final of the Independence Cup played at Barbourfields Stadium on Sunday.

Soma-Phiri also says the team might not even be ready for the season that starts this coming weekend although with time the Kelvin Kaindu-coached lads will be an invincible lot. Sporting a dejected  face, Soma-Phiri said the supporters must nevertheless rally behind the new boys and welcome them to the family.

“The boys have not gelled well and most of them, except Mahachi, are yet to get into the Highlanders way of playing. If you noticed they could not exchange more than three passes, neither could they read each other’s runs but the older boys were finding themselves well,” said Soma-Phiri.

He added: “If we are not careful the first few games might not go our way but you never know with football. It’s important also for the supporters to accept that reality because if they don’t, kuzabanzima. Honestly the team is there and once they gel, it’s going to be misery and calamity to the opposition.”

Highlanders had a terrible 80 minutes of football in which their opponents could have scored half a dozen goals had they been more clinical in front of goal.

Dreadlocked Thabani Kamusoko had a field day in the midfield, outclassing the Highlanders players as he was winning everyball, aerial or ground until the late arrival of Felix Chindungwe.

The former Chicken Inn skipper and defender came in and stabilised the directionless Highlanders midfield that had Hillary Madzivanyika as anchorman.