‘Bosso players need education’

By Sikhumbuzo Moyo

LEGENDARY Highlanders hitman Tobias Mudyambanje has said Bosso players need thorough education in order for them to understand what their club represents. He said this moments after speed merchant Gabriel Nyoni had converted an injury time penalty to salvage a point against a tactically disciplined Harare City at Barbourfields Stadium on Sunday.

It was Highlanders’ first point out of a possible nine at Emagumeni.

After trailing from a 27th minute header by William Manondo, Bosso were given a lifeline when first assistant referee Edgar Rumeki waved his flag after Tendai Samanja handled inside the box, their second penalty of the day. Nyoni stepped forward to beat an impressive Tafadzwa Dube, in goals for the tourists.

The goal was sweet to Bosso supporters but the Highlanders players wasted a good one and a half minutes celebrating the equaliser, at Emagumeni.

Yesteryear Highlanders players would, after getting such a late equaliser, pick up the ball and rush to the centre, eager to get another goal and put the match to bed, said Mudyambanje. Nyoni and teammates though chose to spend those precious moments celebrating the equaliser, from a set piece and in the process wasting precious time that could have been used to further punish the visitors at their moment of weakness.

It’s a behaviour that Mudyambanje, a deadly gunmen during his time, says must and should be removed from the Highlanders players.

“We have good players, believe me, but I think some of them don’t understand what it means to play for Highlanders. Bosso is not just an ordinary side that one can simply say I played for, it’s a religion to some of us and personally I believe the club must indoctrinate abafana laba so that they know the real story behind Highlanders.

“They have just scored an equaliser and they seem content with a draw at home because to them it must be a result but not to supporters. You need to show that you are hungry for success not to be happy with a draw at home. How many precious seconds have been lost there?” said Mudyambanje.

He also said Bosso should go back to its previously revered junior policy where players came through the ranks from the Under-14s. Along the line that would understand the Highlanders supporters’ expectations and the club culture.

“There is nothing wrong with the players we have but like I said some might not truly understand and grasp what this club is. We need to have a never-say-die-spirit until the referee blows for fulltime. They must know that all these people (supporters) are for them not against them because some seem to be overawed by the occasion. Perhaps fans should also start attending the team’s training sessions so that the players get used to the huge numbers instead of meeting them at game time,” said Mudyambanje.

The penalty conversion by Nyoni came after goalkeeper Ariel Sibanda had his spot kick saved by Dube in a match that both teams played well even though the visitors had a larger share of the passes.

Bosso continue to miss glaring chances and Bongani Mafu, the head coach is concerned about that too.

“We continue missing chance after chance, we are still struggling to get goals despite creating numerous chances but I must say that I liked the fighting spirit shown by the boys, that is what we need,” said Mafu after the end of the match.

He added; “It’s just a question of time though before things fall into place.”

With the two points dropped Amahlolanyama slipped from fourth place on the table to sixth with 14 points, six behind leaders Chicken Inn who were held to a 1-1 draw by ZPC Kariba on Saturday. The two teams clash on Saturday at Barboufields Stadium. The Chronicle