Bosso win six-goal thriller at Barbourfields

From Ricky Zililo in Bulawayo

Highlanders . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (3) 4
Bantu Rovers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (1) 2

CHARLES Sibanda scored his first hat-trick since joining Highlanders at the beginning of the season yesterday against Bantu Rovers at Barbourfields yesterday, helping the Bulawayo giants finish the first half of the season with a three-point lead in the Castle Lager Premiership.

The six-goal thriller at Barbourfields did not live up to the derby billing with Bantu Rovers dominating play but like true giants Highlanders were able to grind a result.

Yesterday’s performance must have left Highlanders coach Kelvin Kaindu worried about his defence, anchorman and strike-force.

Sibanda, the 2010 Soccer Star of the Year and arguably the best player of the first half of the season, is the leading Premiership top goalscorer with 10, two ahead of How Mine’s Kuda Musharu who has been at the top of the goals’ chart since the beginning of the season.

Bosso shot ahead in the 12th minute with Sibanda converting from the penalty spot after veteran Hebert Dick, who was lucky to finish the match, hacked down Highlanders’ striker Gabriel Nyoni in the box as he was going for the kill.

Referee Rugare Kusosa, who was better positioned, duly awarded Highlanders a penalty.

Bantu Rovers never threw in the towel with Bukhosi Sibanda, Nqobizitha Masuku, Raphael Kutinyu, Obidiah Tarumbwa and Moses Majika dominating in midfield, creating anxious moments for their opponents, especially the Highlanders wing backs Bruce Kangwa and Simon Munawa.

It was not a surprise for Bantu Rovers to get an equaliser just before the half hour mark when a move that appeared to be from their training ground involving about five players saw Masuku spotting Majika on the left who then sent in a cross that Kutinyu headed from the blindside with Kangwa nowhere in action for Highlanders.

Dick made a second blunder of the day in the 31st minute as he flicked the ball to Sibanda with the Highlanders striker keeping his cool to slot the ball past an advancing Takudzwa Mutanga.

Sibanda completed his hat-trick on the half-hour mark, getting between two Bantu Rovers central defenders to head home a fine delivery from Valentine Ndaba.

Just after conceding the third goal, Bantu Rovers launched a raid and as a result of a jittery Highlanders’ backline, Erick Mudzingwa brought down Tarumbwa on the edge of the box and Tshintsha Guluva’s skipper Nqobizitha Masuku scored a beauty from the resultant foul, tucking the ball to the top corner leaving the Bosso goalkeeper Ariel Sibanda clutching thin air.

When they returned from the breather, Bantu Rovers continued from where they left from and with a bit of luck and precision they would have punished their opponents.

Mapuranga lost the ball to Tafadzwa Ngwena but the Bantu Rovers midfielder was selfish going for glory instead of passing the ball to a better positioned Tarumbwa and Kutinyu in the box.

Kangwa gifted Ngwena another opportunity in the 52nd minute and this time the Bantu Rovers player quickly released the ball to Kutinyu who then laid a perfect pass to Tarumbwa whose chip went over the bar. Chronicle