Zimpapers Logo

Innocent Kurira, [email protected]

HIGHLANDERS FC coach Baltemer Brito believes his side could have come back from the 0-2 deficit when their clash with Dynamos FC was abandoned after 38 minutes following missile throwing and pitch invasion by both teams’ supporters at Barbourfields Stadium last Sunday.

Play was stopped after 38 minutes when Keith Madera appeared to have fouled McKinnon Mushore in the box and Bosso fans thought a penalty should have been given. They went berserk.

The match could not continue with Bosso fans on the Soweto End descending towards police with a number of scuffles and later Dynamos fans entered the pitch.

Some Dynamos fans also dared the Bosso fans at the Empankweni Stand leading to some fights that were stopped by the intervention of the police.

From that point, there were running battles from inside and outside the stadium between Bosso, Dynamos fans and the police.

However, Brito feels had the game continued, his side could have gotten something out of it.

“We have three defeats because one of them no one can really say we lost. No one can prove we lost the game if we got one goal before half-time we would have had a chance to come back. We have shown before we have players with a big heart and have the character to come back,” said Brito

“There was an opportunity to come back as the game was open. The game could have changed quickly as we see all over the world. We have two defeats we can take it as three because in the end, we will lose that game but we have more teams with more defeats than us.

“The main focus is on the boys understanding all the noise people are making out there talking about performance. It’s not true. Only one team has more points than us and one more point and if Sunday was the last game against Ngezi we could make history and reach what no one expected from us.

“We are still proud of what these boys are doing. We still believe in what they can do. We are hopeful they will show their potential and the talent that they have. They will rise and fight. We are confident they will show a different face on Sunday,” said Brito.

Brito has now put Sunday’s events behind him and is fully focused on the next assignment against Yadah Stars.

“Before the game we asked for the good behaviour of everyone, not only the fans but everyone. So we don’t want to make an assessment of the situation because this is in the past,” Brito.

Yadah have, however, written to the Premier Soccer League requesting for the fixture to be moved to a neutral venue outside Bulawayo for the safety of players and fans.

Yadah suggested that if the match cannot be moved to a neutral venue, it should be played in an empty Barbourfields Stadium.

Asked on the development, Brito said: “This is not for me as a coach to answer but whether we play here or on the moon we will do all we can to win the game.”
— @innocentskizoe