Kaindu awaits stormy meeting

Sport
HIGHLANDERS head coach Kelvin Kaindu awaits yet another stormy meeting with his employers this evening after the Bulawayo giants lost further ground in their bid for the Castle Lager Premier Soccer League title following the 0-1 defeat to Harare City at Rufaro Stadium on Saturday.

HIGHLANDERS head coach Kelvin Kaindu awaits yet another stormy meeting with his employers this evening after the Bulawayo giants lost further ground in their bid for the Castle Lager Premier Soccer League title following the 0-1 defeat to Harare City at Rufaro Stadium on Saturday. FORTUNE MBELE SPORTS REPORTER

The Highlanders executive committee and the technical team meet every Monday evening to review weekend games and Bosso has once again lost three points at a crucial stage of the league.

Champions Dynamos lead them by four points with seven matches remaining to end the season.

Dynamos opened a four-point lead on Saturday after holding FC Platinum to a goalless draw at Mandava Stadium and Bosso were dislodged from the second spot by ZPC Kariba who beat Black Rhinos 2-1 at Gwanzura Stadium.

The champions are now on 43 points with the power utility side trailing by two points and Highlanders on 39 points.

Last season, when Bosso seemed bound to lift the elusive championship silverware, it was Harare City who ambushed them with a 4-0 drubbing.

Assistant coach Mark Mathe took charge of that match as Kaindu was attending a Uefa B Licence course in the United Kingdom.

An injury to new signing defender Webster Chingodza and the suspension of central defender Dumisani Ndlovu saw Kaindu opting to use midfielder Welcome Ndiweni on the right-back with Erick Mudzingwa and former captain Innocent Mapuranga in the centre.

After the defeat on Saturday — Bosso’s fourth loss of the season in the league — Kaindu said his boys lacked character.

“I know the team when they want to win and today we lacked that zeal. The character was not there at all. Dropping points at this stage of the season will always make things difficult for us,” Kaindu said.

The Bosso executive committee had no kind words for the Zambian gaffer and his assistants a few weeks ago when Highlanders were humiliated 1-4 by Dynamos in the final of the TM Pick n Pay Challenge Cup at the National Sports Stadium, but the technical team heaved a sigh of relief after beating city neighbours How Mine 3-1 in the quarter-finals of the Chibuku Super Cup.

With the multitude of Bosso fans growing impatient with Kaindu, he faces ZPC Kariba in the next league game at Hartsfield Rugby Grounds before travelling to meet title-chasing Caps United.

Bosso will then clash with city neighbours Chicken Inn before another tough encounter with Hwange at the Colliery, ending the season with Chiredzi (home), Shabanie (away) and Chapungu at home.

Winning the Chibuku Super Cup, the Mbada Diamonds Cup and the league, would have brought reprieve for Kaindu, who is gradually becoming unpopular with Bosso supporters.