Highlanders’ tight spot

By The Southern Eye | Nov. 5, 2013

BULAWAYO giants Highlanders face an uphill task of winning the 2013 Castle Lager Premier Soccer League after failing to beat already relegated Motor Action at Rufaro Stadium in Harare on Sunday and are shifting their attention to the Mbada Diamonds Cup.

Bosso could easily have reclaimed the top spot on Sunday had they hung on to a 15th minute goal by Master Masitara, but they allowed the Mighty Bulls to level the scoreline to 1-1 to remain stuck on position three, a point behind leaders Dynamos and Harare City on 49 points.

It was a chance for Highlanders to sit at the top once again after DeMbare were held to a 2-2 draw by Triangle at Gibbo Stadium and Harare City shared the spoils in a goalless draw with Black Rhinos at Rimuka Stadium after the army side failed to convert a spot-kick.

Now the Bulawayo giants are faced with an uphill task of beating high-riding Gishon Ntini’s Triangle at Barbourfields Stadium next Sunday, the insurmountable task of cruising past contenders Harare City in the capital before hosting stubborn Shabanie Mine in the last game of the season.

The test for either Highlanders or Harare City winning the championship will be heralded by the Mbada Diamonds Cup semi-final meet at Mandava Stadium, Zvishavane, on Saturday with Bosso head coach Kelvin Kaindu expected back in the country today on time to start preparations for the semi-final tie.

Kaindu left the country soon after Bosso lost 0-1 to Dynamos at Barbourfields Stadium last Sunday to attend a Uefa B licence coaching course in the United Kingdom and club chairman Peter Dube yesterday confirmed the mentor could arrive in Bulawayo yesterday or today.

“We have been in communication and last night he was on his way to Johannesburg and he is probably on his way and will be arriving today (yesterday) or tomorrow (today) in time for Mbada Cup preparations,” Dube said.

Kaindu was not in the country when Bosso took on Motor Action, a side that they have not beaten in three years and his assistant Bekithemba “Super’ Ndlovu was in charge and managed to grab a point from the relegated side.

Keep Reading

But DeMbare look set to defend the league title as they will host Shabanie Mine in the next league match before travelling to Bulawayo for a date with Chicken Inn.

They will finish off the season against Black Mambas, who sit precariously on position 12 on the log table with 31 points.

Harare City will host Motor Action next before two final tough matches against Highlanders at home and away to Caps United.

However, former Highlanders defender Douglas “British” Mloyi believed all the three top teams had a chance of winning the title judging by their last three fixtures.

“The three remaining fixtures for the three clubs are balanced and Highlanders could still win it. The boys just have to change their attitude and remain focused and make sure they win all the remaining matches. If you look at Dynamos, they still have two tough ones against Shabanie and Chicken Inn and Harare City are still going to meet us and Caps United. The race is still open and any of the three teams could win the championship,” Mloyi said.

FC Platinum on 45 points, could have surrendered the title race after losing 0-2 to Chicken Inn on Sunday at Luveve while Caps United beat Buffaloes 1-0 in Mutare and have also moved to 45 points — behind the platinum miners on goal difference.

Mathematically, both Caps and Platinum would still be in the race if the top three dropped points.