HARARE – The decision to sack Zambian coach Kelvin Kaindu did not help Highlanders much as they were thrashed 4-0 by Caps United at the National Sports Stadium in Harare.
The Green Machine needed just 22 minutes to flatten their opponents and hand them their biggest defeat this season as they raced to a swift 3-0 lead after neutralising the visitors’ early raids with goals from Ishmael Thindwa, Nicholas Alifandika and an own-goal by Dumisani Ndlovu.
Kelvin Bulaji then killed the game as a contest with a firm header in the 75th minute to ensure that partying continued in the Caps United supporters’ bays.
Stand in coach Mark Mathe would have wanted a better audition for the job.
Generally, Bosso’s defending was atrocious yesterday and it proved to be their Achilles Heel at the end. Mathe seemed clueless as he made numerous positional changes which apparently cost the team.
Mathe chose to leave out regular goalkeeper and skipper Ariel Sibanda for Nyoni, started with veteran defender Innocent Mapuranga playing defensive link where he struggled with the pace before switching roles with Felix Chindungwe who had been placed at centre back partnering Erick Mudzingwa.
It looked like the coach was experimenting. The defence failed to click and appeared jittery before Mudzingwa was shunted back to his usual right back position and Ndlovu returning to the central defence to reunite with Mapuranga in the second half.
Mathe said conceding four goals were too much although he still hopes the side would bounce back from the setback. The Highlanders coach said their defence was a big letdown.
“It is too much but remember we did the same to Caps United. It happens in football. All we needed to do was to be tactically better in defence. We were not, and Caps were inspired by the loss they suffered at Barbourfields, so they were up for it.
“We really struggled in dealing with their speed and their counter-attack play and we didn’t win all the second balls. If you notice in the first half, first four-five minutes we missed four-five chances including that penalty (appeal). It could have changed the course of the game. Tactically we were sound offensively but defensively we were not. Penetration was our down point,” said Mathe.
Caps United coach Taurai Mangwiro said there was no better way to revenge the embarrassment they suffered at Barbourfields when they lost to Highlanders by the same margin in the reverse fixture.
“We wanted to atone for that loss. I am glad today the players came to party and they delivered. We did very well. Emphasis at training was on retaining the ball for as long as possible and holding the transition well. I am sure today it all worked well for us. We could do more with improvement on possession,” said Mangwiro.
Before the match Dynamos coach Callisto Pasuwa had said it was the former Bosso coach Kaindu that he feared the most in the title race.
“For me, (Kaindu) was one coach I thought had what it takes to win the title because honestly it’s not easy to compete at the highest level for three years with an average side like Highlanders.
“His departure is an advantage for us because I know that the coach who comes in will need a few games to adjust the team to play the way he wants. Unfortunately there is no such luxury for them because there are only a few games to play,” said Pasuwa.
Teams
CAPS United: T. Dube, T. Khumbuyani, R. Pfumbidzai, D. Chipala, S. Makatuka, T. Samanja, H. zvirekwi, M. Muchenje (T. Mahori, 57th minute), N. Alifandika (G. Mangani, 70th minute), I. Thindwa, K. Bulaji (D. Mukandi, 85th minute)
Highlanders: N. Nyoni, D. Ndlovu, B. Kangwa, E. Mudzingwa, F. Chindungwe, I. Mapuranga, M. Maphosa (W. Ndiweni, 66th minute), R. Kutsanzira, J. Ngodzo (P. Manhanga, 40th minute), C. Sibanda (O. Zibande, 71st minute), G. Nyoni
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