Bosso beat Bantu Rovers in Bulawayo derby

Sports — By on November 22, 2010 2:17 am

By Thandiwe Moyo

Bantu Rovers………………………0 Highlanders………………..(1) 1

BANTU Rovers’ fate was sealed yesterday when they suffered their 17th defeat of the season in a Bulawayo Premiership derby at Barbourfields yesterday. Highlanders got their goal from Zephaniah Ngodzo, who fired a 30m drive in the 37th minute after the Warriros defender had been set up by Protasho Kabwe — and what a cracker!

Methembe Ndlovu’s Bantu are now just playing to complete their fixtures before heading to the Southern Region Division One League next year. Their coach Gift Lunga (Senior) said despite the loss they would fight on to win their remaining matches. “Even though we have no chance of surviving relegation we are not going to throw in the towel just yet. We have to work hard to finish the matches and hope to win,” Lunga said.

Bosso have, however, set their sights on a top three finish that will guarantee them a place in either the Champions League or the Confederation Cup. Highlanders who registered their eighth win since Mkhuphali Masuku took over as coach now have 49 points and remained third on the log standings. It was not a match that had the makings of a derby as both sides failed to rise to the occasion.

It was not until the 26th minute when Highlanders got their first meaningful shot at goal. Kelvin Sibanda appeared to have handled inside the box but referee Mlindleli Ndebele adjudged that it was outside the Bantu Rovers box. Joel Ngodzo got behind the ball but the Bantu goalkeeper Liberty Chirava punched it back into play. Zephaniah sent his effort over the bar from 20m from the resultant rebound.

In the 34th minute Bekithemba Ndlovu had his effort saved by Chirava. Three minutes later Highlanders got the initiative through Zephaniah. Kabwe spotted Zephaniah on the near side unmarked on the right and unselfishly sent the ball to him. The hardworking defender obliged with a scorcher that hit the roof of the net to give Highlanders the lead.

Three minutes after scoring the beauty Zephania’s celebrations were cut short when he was given a yellow card for rough play. Bantu Rovers were to get their first effort at goal from Arnold Tshuma a minute before half time but his attempt was saved by Arial Sibanda, the Highlanders’ number one. After the break Bantu Rovers came back a much better side and sought for an equaliser, which, however, proved elusive.

Sibanda thwarted Rovers captain Danny Phiri’s shot a minute into the second half as Bantu began asking questions to Gilbert Banda and company. In the 52nd minute Kabwe had an opportunity to get his name on the scoresheet when he received a well executed pass from Joel but he sent his shot high. In the 61st minute Eric Mudzingwa found Francis Kanda in the box but under the challenge of a Bantu Rovers defender he failed to find the target.

Joel showed some magic in the 64th minute when weaved his way past Herbert Dick, Phiri and Kudakwashe Mahachi but his final touch let him down and his shot was too weak to trouble goalkeeper Chirava. His elder brother though (Zephaniah) tried another long range shot from 40 metres which caught Chirava off guard but the goalkeeper managed to recover to save by tipping the ball over the bar. Mudzingwa had another shot saved in the 82nd minute from a Joel cross with Chirava having to stretch to keep it out.

Masuku said they were under pressure since it was a derby but he was happy they had emerged with full points. “When it is a derby you are always under pressure to win and it is always exciting when you get maximum points,” Masuku said.

Teams:

Bantu Rovers: L Chirava, H Dick, D Phiri, K Mahachi , D Ndlovu (M Nkamba 86th minute), R Choruma (A Peperere 65th minute), J Ngodzo, A Tshuma, N Masuku, S Dube, K Sibanda

Highlanders: A Sibanda, G Banda, I Mapuranga, B Ndlovu, Z Ngodzo, P Kabwe (R Kutsanzira 65th minute), F Kanda, G Lunga (junior), E Mudzingwa, M Mupera, J Ngodzo (W Ndiweni 86th minute).

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