Bosso star Joel Ngodzo arrested

By Ricky Zililo

ONCE touted as the next best thing after Peter Ndlovu, Highlanders midfielder Joel Ngodzo was on Sunday arrested by police at Hartsfield Stadium for driving without a licence.

Bosso chairman Peter Dube said Ngodzo was eventually released and asked to produce his driver’s licence. The stylish player who was not part of the team, had earlier on been reported to have had scuffles with fans and police on the terraces.

Ngodzo has failed to live up to his standards of 2010 when he was part of a promising Bosso side which played with lots of flair under Mohamed Fathi and Mkhuphali Masuku before moving to FC Platinum where he was a big disappointment from 2011 to 2013.

Meanwhile, Highlanders FC yesterday resolved to give striker Charles Sibanda severe punishment for his insolent behaviour after being substituted during the team’s fourth consecutive Premiership defeat on Sunday.

Bosso were beaten 1-0 by Chicken Inn.

Sibanda was substituted after 53 minutes following a lukewarm performance and with his replacement Knox Mutizwa waiting by the touchline the lanky player jogged to the dressing room without shaking hands or encouraging his teammate, much to the coach and fans’ chagrin.

Club chairman Dube said “untoward behaviour won’t be tolerated” and they will whip into line players that do not toe the line.

Three executive members — Dube, treasurer Jerry Sibanda and Charles “Six-One” Moyo met the technical team after their afternoon training session where they resolved to “deal accordingly” with Sibanda.

The club’s vice-chairman Mgcini Mpofu and Andrew Tapela, the secretary-general, asked to be excused from yesterday’s weekly meeting.

“Unfortunately, the team leaves tomorrow (today) and because they had to prepare we had a brief meeting with the technical team where it was agreed that severe action be taken against the player for his behaviour. Appropriate communication will be made public after our next Monday meeting through the chief executive officer Ndumiso Gumede who didn’t attend today’s meeting because of a pressing personal matter,” said Dube.

Bosso leaves Bulawayo this morning for Hwange where they take on the miners tomorrow as they seek to end their winless run with Sibanda doubtful for the journey.

Sibanda, the league’s leading scorer with 12 goals is sitting on a written warning which he received after Highlanders’ 4-1 defeat to Dynamos in the TM Challenge match last month.

He was part of the trio of Njabulo Ncube and Joel Ngodzo who were said to have been intoxicated at the team’s camp.

Sibanda’s unbecoming behaviour did not only rile the club’s supporters but also left coach Mark Mathe annoyed.

“It’s rather unfortunate for a player like Charles to act like that. As a club we’re going to take action because such conduct can’t be condoned. No player is bigger than the club,” Mathe said.

Sibanda told Chronicle Sport on Sunday that he simply lost his head and was disappointed with his own performance.

“I want to apologise to the fans and the club for what happened. The coaches have every right to be angry with my behaviour. The truth is that I’ve been feeling lots of pressure because of my recent goal drought,” he said.

“I always try my best to help the team win, but today I felt supporters were against me as they kept on shouting that I’m a traitor who is leaving for Dynamos.

“The truth is that no-one from Dynamos has ever approached me. If I’m to leave the club it will be a move to another country.” The Chronicle