Bosso beat Buffaloes to top the league

From Sikhumbuzo Moyo in Bulawayo

Highlanders . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1 (3)

Buffaloes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0

HIGHLANDERS managed to keep a clean sheet for the first time in seven matches and in the process silenced a hugely confident army side Buffaloes in a Castle Lager Premier Soccer League match played before an appreciative crowd at Barbourfields yesterday. 

With the win Highlanders shot to the top of the standings for the first time this season on a superior goal difference to FC Platinum.

An own goal by the visitors’ captain Prosper Matizanadzo five minutes before the breather, a top drawer goal from star midfielder Mthulisi Maphosa in the 53rd minute and another strike from second half substitute Milton Ncube eight minutes before the end were enough to condemn the Mutare-based side whose coach Saul Chaminuka had declared war on Bosso.

“He talked too much before the match now I think he respects this institution called Highlanders. We talk on the field of play and after the match,” said Highlanders assistant coach Bekithemba Ndlovu.

Highlanders could have gone ahead after just 20 seconds into the match when Masimba Mambare received a through ball from Maphosa, raced into the box and in the process leaving a Buffaloes defender by the wayside. When inside the 12-yard box he brought in a cross that was, however, scrambled to safety by Never Musvipa.

The black and white army were back again into the Buffaloes’ goal area three minutes later but forward Njabulo Ncube, who had a rather quite game save for some flashes of brilliance, took too long to shoot at goal until the ball was booted away to safety.

Perhaps that was the impetus that the soldiers needed as they started to dictate the pace with their beautiful passes that won the hearts of many in the predominantly Bosso supporters.

Through one such move in the 13th minute, Highlanders were nearly punished for sleeping on duty when Steven Sibanda beat an ill-conceived off-side trap by the central defence of captain Innocent Mapuranga and gangly Dumisani Ndlovu.

Sibanda charged towards goal and shot-stopper Munyaradzi Diya should be praised for keeping on his toes as he rushed out to stop the mess.

His timely intervention was right at the time when Sibanda wanted to go for the kill and Diya just managed to touch the ball with his fingers. At that moment Barbourfields was so quite and one could easily hear a needle fall for it was a heart-stopping moment.

Sibanda kept charging and with Diya nowhere in goals he took rather too long to finish Bosso off and by the time he tried to do that, Mapuranga was in between him and glory, much to the chagrin of Buffaloes players but certainly to the joy and relief of Highlanders.

Man-of-the-match Beavan Chikaka, who together with left back Bruce Kangwa ran themselves to a standstill, watched in disbelief as his shot from outside the box missed the cross bar by inches. He had made a nice diagonal run from the left.

But still Buffaloes kept their composure and continued playing some intelligent passes but Highlanders were always dangerous when going forward.

In the 29th minute, Mambare was hacked down, in what many felt was inside the box, but referee Nkosana Nduna, who controlled the match well, blew for a free-kick right at the edge of the box.

Simon Munawa, playing as a right back, could have scored a spectacular goal 39 minutes into the match when he let loose a bullet from way outside the box. Bosso were now sensing blood and a goal did come a minute later when Chikaka received a nice pass on the right side and charged towards goal.

He got inside the box and brought in a knee high but powerful cross into the danger zone and under challenge from the lurking Njabulo, skipper Matizanadzo could do nothing but scramble the ball into his own nets although it seemed he had handled in the process.

Farai Banda failed to execute a header off a free-kick two minutes before the break and that was the last action before Nduna blew for the break.

While Buffaloes were clearly enjoying territorial advantage in the first half, the tide turned into Highlanders favour in the last half as they threatened to overrun their opponents.

As they were going for the kill, a Buffaloes player handled just outside the box and Kangwa took the responsibility of taking the free-kick.

He brought in an in-swinger into the box that was badly dealt with by the visitors defence, resulting in the ball falling to the waiting Maphosa and like a true general, he coolly picked his spot and lobbed the ball over the entire defence and the goalkeeper Chengetai Tandadzai.

It was to be Maphosa’s second goal at Barbourfields in as many games. Bosso suddenly went on the rampage and could have added a third had Cleopas Dube been more composed in the 57th minute when he headed over the bar a Kangwa cross.

A minute later Maphosa’s wide pass to the right found a rushing Mambare who roasted his man and brought in a cross. It found a well positioned Dube who did well to head the ball downwards in an effort to deceive Tandadzai but quite unfortunate for the tall striker, the ball bounced over the goalkeeper and the post.

In the 67th minute, Maphosa released a pile-driver from outside the box which hit the crossbar with the goalkeeper beaten. Highlanders coach Kelvin Kaindu then brought in Milton Ncube for Njabulo Ncube while Heritein Masuku replaced Maphosa.

Both outgoing players received a standing ovation from the Bosso fans. Twelve minutes after his introduction, Milton Ncube struck. Hillary Madzivanyika, who is asserting his position in the Highlanders midfield, was brought down on the far side as Bosso were attacking the Mpilo End.

Milton took the responsibility and against all odds, brought in a curling free-kick that hit the nets and by then the Bosso party erupted.

“We lost against a better side although I felt we were far the better team in the first half until that goal. I, however, feel the match officials contributed largely to the final outcome,” said Chaminuka after the match. Bosso assistant coach Ndlovu praised his charges for a job welldone. The Chronicle

Teams

Highlanders: M. Diya, S. Munawa, B. Kangwa, D. Ndlovu, I. Mapuranga, H. Madzivanyika, M. Maphosa (H. Masuku 77th minute), M. Mambare, B. Chikaka, N. Ncube (M. Ncube 70th minute), C. Dube(P. Moyo 64th minute).

Buffaloes: C. Tandadzani, S. Nkata, F. Banda, N. Musvipa, P. Chandisaita, P. Matizanadzo, T. Mareya (R. Mwenga 60th minute), A. Dzumbunu, W. Sithole (M. Mageja 46th minute), J. Muzokomba, S. Sibanda (D. Zimbago 60th minute).