Charles Sibanda aims high

Sport
HIGHLANDERS man-of-the-moment Charles Sibanda is on a mission.

HIGHLANDERS man-of-the-moment Charles Sibanda is on a mission.

SUKOLUHLE MTHETHWA SPORTS REPORTER

He says he has settled in well at the club and hopes to work very hard in the coming games and wants to achieve four targets this year.

Sibanda has justified his move from Zvishavane by scoring crucial goals for Bosso. The 2010 soccer star of the year yesterday told Southern Eye Sport he was enjoying his stay at Highlanders.

“I started off the season on a very low note and supporters seemed not to have faith in me. Now I have started scoring. I think I am settling in well. It is not easy to join a team and gel immediately, but I am very committed to the club. I am happy with my performance so far and I hope to continue working hard and be consistent at the same time,” he said.

Sibanda put up a classic performance when he scored a brace in Highlanders’ 3-1 victory over Buffaloes at Sakubva Stadium in May.

The former Motor Action and FC Platinum midfielder could have made it three, but his third goal-bound shot was deflected by Buffaloes defender Liberty Chakoroma beating the home side’s goalminder Blessing Mwandimutsira.

Sibanda scored for Bosso in the ninth minute against Triangle at Gibbo Stadium last month before grabbing the equalisers against FC Platinum at Barbourfields Stadium.

He scored when he was introduced as a second-half substitute in the 3-0 thumping of Chiredzi in April. On Sunday, Sibanda grabbed a brace  after striker Gabriel Nyoni levelled terms after visitors Black Rhinos had gone ahead through Lincoln Samaraya.

He said he had settled in well because he played with some of the players in the Warriors set-up.

“I have played with Rio (Peter Moyo), Milton Ncube, Kuda Mahachi and Munyaradzi Diya in the national team. That has contributed to my performance. I also played with Joel Ngodzo at FC Platinum. The other reason is because I am a utility player. I am not an outright striker, but I am a midfielder. But I can play in any position,” he said.

However, Moyo and Ncube are now in South Africa while   Mamelodi Sundowns midfielder Mahachi is attending trials with French side Monaco.

Sibanda said he was putting maximum effort in his performance as he has targets he wanted to achieve.

“I was a soccer star of the year finalist last year. I want to be in the calendar again this year or even win the top award like I did in 2010. Highlanders have not won the championship in a long time, so I want to help them win it,” he said.

“My other aim is to be the league’s top goalscorer at the end of the season. I am eyeing a move to Europe. I want a move to Europe because I know that my type of play will not fit in South Africa.”