Highlanders……..0 Buffaloes………….0 FORTUNE MBELE SPORTS REPORTER
WASTEFUL Highlanders had to settle for a point as they played a goalless draw against determined Buffaloes in an exciting Castle Lager Premier Soccer League match at Hartsfield Grounds yesterday.
It was a good start for coach Moses Chunga in his first assignment at Buffaloes to get a point away from home as his counterpart Kelvin Kaindu watched log leaders Dynamos open a three-point lead after dismissing visiting Chiredzi 2-0 at Rufaro Stadium.
Highlanders are now on 39 points, but Kaindu said Bosso were still in the running for the championship despite the setback.
Caps United with 37 points will be away to struggling Bantu Rovers today while ZPC Kariba with 38 points are also in Bulawayo tomorrow against How Mine.
Both matches will be played at Hartsfield.
“It is unfortunate that we did not score today (yesterday) despite the numerous chances that we had,” Kaindu said.
“Some of our players did not play today because of injuries and suspensions.
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“But there are still some games to go. If we had won this one it would have put us in a better position.
“We lacked aggression, but I think we are still in shape for the title.”
Leading scorer Charles Sibanda and Pasca Manhanga were out due to suspension. Yesterday saw the return of striker Gabriel Nyoni, who had a good game, but missed a number of chances.
Chunga was happy with the point despite Buffaloes remaining on position eight with 30 points — not safe from relegation with eight matches to go to the end of the season.
“The boys did well. They came from a win, but we will take the draw,” he said.
“Credit goes to the boys. After one week with them and such a performance against invincible Highlanders is a sign that we will do better.
“We just have to work on our finishing,” an elated Chunga added. Even the antics of a Bosso fan from the AmaZulu Stadium end, who believed that the Buffaloes goal area was “locked” by goalkeeper Itayi Chiwara’s towel stuffed in his nets, could not help Highlanders.
The unruly Bosso fan jumped the perimeter fence and ran off with the towel two minutes before full time as Highlanders continued to bombard Buffaloes, failing to get the much sought after goal.
The first chance of scoring fell on Buffaloes in the sixth minute when Kastigu Juwakinyu broke an offside trap and beat goalkeeper Ariel Sibanda, but his effort was cleared off the goal line by a recovering Dumisani Ndlovu.
Five minutes later, Joel Ngodzo’s cross from a dead-ball situation was skied by Hillary Madzivanyika after a Felix Chindungwe goal-bound header.
Nyoni beat defender Marshal Machazane on the left in the 17th minute and came face to face with Chiwara, but he miscued his effort and the goalkeeper made a save.
He was at it again in the 31st minute, roasting defender Liberty Chakoroma on the right before he was hacked down just outside the penalty box. Bruce Kangwa wasted the free-kick.
Chiwara came to Buffaloes’ rescue in the 56th minute from a Rahman Kutsanzira thunderbolt while Nyoni had his header in added time hit the cross bar with goalkeeper beaten from a Kangwa cross.
Buffaloes substitute Philip Thembani had his effort cleared off the line by Erick Mudzingwa in the 75th minute.
Highlanders were the better side in knocking the ball around and using build-ups from defence while Buffaloes depended on pumping the ball forward in search of Juwakinyu and Jacob Muzokomba.
TEAMS Highlanders: A Sibanda, E Mudzingwa, B Kangwa, D Ndlovu (W Chingodza 66th minute), I Mapuranga, F Chindungwe, R Kutsanzira, H Madzivanyika (S Munawa 57th minute), N Ncube (K Machazane 55th minute), J Ngodzo, G Nyoni
Buffaloes: I Chiwara, K Mwaramba, K Thembani, L Chakoroma, P Chandisaita, T Mombeshora, M Nyamukasa (A Dzumbunu 71st minute), L Katongomara, K Juwakinyu, J Muzokomba, M Machazane (P Thembani 71st minute)
