BARBOURFIELDS Stadium on Saturday reverberated to song and dance that spilled into the city centre and trickled into the high-density suburbs till the wee hours of yesterday morning after Bulawayo giants Highlanders massacred neighbours How Mine 3-0 to bag the $130 000 Mbada Diamonds Cup.
Sports Reporter
It was a befitting victory for Highlanders, who surrendered the Castle Lager Premier Soccer League (PSL) title to Dynamos a week ago on goal difference for the second time after last year’s league ended in the same way.
An impressive crowd of about 22 000 fans taking advantage of the $1 charge for the rest of the ground, courtesy of Mbada Diamonds, thronged Emagumeni to witness a magnificent display from Highlanders as they dismantled the PSL debutants who had beaten them twice in the league this year and were looking forward to a treble.
But How Mine found Bosso in a no-nonsense mood as they meant business from the outset. Man-of-the-match Peter “Rio” Moyo was in dazzling form getting the better of the miners’ Menard Mupera and Thembani “Smaller” Masuku while defensive linkman Simon Munawa stopped all attacks in the centre.
A free roving role by Moyo saw him tear How Mine apart and his combination with equally in-form Masimba Mambare on the right made it easy for Highlanders.
They were easily rewarded early in the 17th minute with a cross from skipper Innocent Mapuranga that fell on the path of veteran striker Njabulo “Tshiki” Ncube, who made no mistake but fire past How Mine goalkeeper Ephraim Mazarura.
Moyo was rewarded for his efforts scoring his first goal this year in the 25th minute from a Mambare cross.
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Then Mambare finished the gold miners off in the 49th minute after he was set up by Bruce Kangwa.
How Mine tried with a few sporadic raids, but goalkeeper and player of the tournament Munyaradazi Diya was outstanding and shut all their moves out with the impressive Erick Mudzingwa in central defence giving no chance for PSL debutants’ Mupera, Timothy January and Warren Dube.
Winning the cup could see head coach Kelvin Kaindu, whom Highlanders fans had lost faith in after he left country for the United Kingdom to pursue a Uefa B Licence coaching course at a crucial moment in the league, retain his job as his contract expires at the end of the year.
Quizzed on his stay at Bosso after the match on Saturday, Kaindu said: “Why don’t you ask my employers on whether I will be around or not? I am standing before you right now as the Highlanders coach and it is not for me, but the employer to say if I would be allowed to continue.”
He, however, said he believed Bosso was on the right track to win the championship after winning their first major tournament. They last won the league in 2006.
The game had started off at a fast pace for both sides, but How Mine were disjointed in the centre where Gilbert Banda was anchorman and Masuku and Mupera playing wide while the duo of January and Dube were not quick on recovery.
Bosso attacked exposing especially left-back Khumbulani Banda to Mambare and Highlanders took advantage of the leak in that flank.
How Mine skipper Hebert Dick, Nyasha Mukumbi in central defence and the wing-backs Brighton Dube and Khumbulani were kept on their toes.
How Mine head coach Philani “Beefy” Ncube said his charges had failed to control the intensity of the game and had allowed two quick goals that broke the team.
