Bosso on top

By The Southern Eye | Oct. 17, 2013

Highlanders . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .(1) 4 Tripple B . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .(0) 1

Sukoluhle Mthethwa Sports Reporter

HIGHLANDERS leapt to the top of the log table opening a two-point lead after beating Tripple B 4-1 in a Castle Lager Premier Soccer League match at Barbourfields Stadium in Bulawayo yesterday relegating Dynamos to second spot.

Njabulo “Tshiki” Ncube opened the scoresheet for Highlanders in the 12th minute, taking his goal tally to eight. Bhekimpilo Ncube added the second in the 48th minute, Masimba Mambare scored the third in the 51st minute while substitute Ozias Zibande grabbed the fourth for the Bulawayo giants four minutes before full time.

The relegation-threatened Beitbridge side got their consolation from Webster Chingodza in the 57th minute.

With Dynamos losing 0-2 to FC Platinum at Mandava Stadium in Zvishavane yesterday, Bosso moved from second spot to settle on first position with 44 points while Dynamos are second with 42 points from 24 games.

Tripple B remained second from the bottom with 19 points 24 games.

Highlanders coach Kelvin Kaindu was back in time for yesterday’s match and happy with the result. He had been to Zambia on personal business.

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“I am happy with the results, but I feel we should have scored more than four goals. But it is a great improvement on our part that we have scored four goals in a match. We missed about 10 chances. However, I think we give away goals easily — if you look at the goals we have conceded some came easily.

“I would also like to urge supporters to rally behind the team even when the chips are down because there was a time when they were not driving the team,” the Zambian gaffer said.

On the next match away to Black Rhinos, Kaindu said: “ Black Rhinos have been consistent at home so I think it is important for us to work on a strategy that will help us get a good result.”

Tripple B coach Peter Manoti said they could have won or even drawn against Bosso.

“Not taking anything away from Highlanders I think we conceded very silly goals. In the second half we conceded two silly goals because we did not defend well. When you give away such goals away from home it is difficult to rise to the occasion. We could have won or drawn the match.

“We have to win all our remaining games. We can survive. Anything is possible in football regardless of the situation,” he said.

Bosso took the lead after 12 minutes following an exchange involving Bhekimpilo, Mambare and Njabulo.

Bhekimpilo found Njabulo inside the box, but the Highlanders striker shot wide before the ball fell on Mambare who brought the ball back inside the box.

Mambare’s cross found Njabulo who made no mistake beating Tripple B goalkeeper Gilbert Chigwandaza.

Highlanders who seemed to be hungrier for goals, came close to getting a second when Bhekimpilo missed from close range in the 17th minute.

Bosso could have scored more goals but wasted chances with Njabulo skying his effort three minutes later.

Tripple B goalkeeper Chigwandaza was kept busy as he was forced to punch away Peter “ Rio” Moyo’s shot in the 21st minute.

The visitors could have grabbed an equaliser in the 29th minute when Givemore Fireyi was fouled by Dumisani Ndlovu, but they failed to utilise the free-kick outside the box.

Bosso continued to attack and were rewared three minutes from the break after Bhekimpilo beat Chigwandaza making up for his earlier miss.

Mambare added the third in the 51st minute from close range after being set up by Njabulo. A lapse in concentration by Highlanders defenders saw Chingodza pulling one back in the 57th minute.

Zibande, who had come in for Njabulo in the 66th minute, killed the match as a contest when he headed past Chigwandaza to make it four in the 86th minute.

Bhekimpilo could have grabbed his second of the afternoon, but was unlucky to see his effort hit the upright post in injury time.