Highlanders . . . . . . . . . .(0) 1 Black Rhinos . . . . . . . . . . . 0
By Fortune Mbele
AN appreciative crowd of about 3 000 fans braved the chilly Bulawayo weather to witness Highlanders beat Black Rhinos in the second Commander Zimbabwe National Army (ZNA) charity match at Barbourfields Stadium yesterday.
Ozias Zibande scored the solitary goal 10 minutes after the break for Bosso to walk away with $6 000 and gold medals while the soldiers got $4 000 for their trouble.
Proceeds from the match go to the army charities to be channelled to their five charitable institutions. ZNA Head of Army Charities Secretariat, Major Fabion Chitungo was happy with the crowd that attended.
“It being a chilly day and it being the first match in Bulawayo, I think the crowd was okay,” Chitungo said.
Highlanders coach Kelvin Kaindu played some of his fringe players in the match that included third choice goalkeeper Ashford Katsande, Zibande, Douglas Sibanda, Bobby Nkomo and Lucky Nyoni.
Knox Mutizwa and Bruce Tshuma, who have not been featuring regularly because of competition for jerseys, were part of the team.
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The Zambian gaffer was impressed with the game and said it will be difficult for him to select a team to play Chicken Inn in the midweek league derby on Wednesday.
“It was a good practice match for us. Everyone played very well. It is going to be difficult to come up with a team that will play Chicken Inn on Wednesday. There is a possibility that some of the players that played today (yesterday) might make it into the team. We now focus on the next match. Chicken Inn has been enjoying good form. If we pick up maximum points, it will be good,” Kaindu said.
Regulars Munyaradzi Diya, Mthulisi Maphosa, Hillary Madzivanyika, skipper Innocent Mapuranga and Graham Ncube sat it out on the bench with the latter replacing an impressive Peter “Rio” Moyo in the 70th minute.
Black Rhinos coach Arthur Tutani was also pleased with his charges’ display despite the defeat.
“It was a good game. We played very well and I am proud of the youths that I have come up with. They are very comfortable with the ball. We are just going to work on our grey areas as we missed a number of chances,” Tutani said.
Substitute Brian Muzondiwa, who came in for Marshal Mudewe in the 61st minute and displayed some brilliant touches on the right flank, was impressive.
Relegation-fighting Rhinos faces equally troubled Tripple B at Rimuka Stadium in Kadoma on Wednesday in a league match.
Rio roasted Rhinos’ left-back Milton Kurewa before pushing the ball to Douglas whose cross was met with a brilliant header by Zibande to put Highlanders in the lead in the 55th minute.
Rhinos could have scored first in the 23rd minute, but striker Bruce Homora allowed Bosso defenders to recover after he had beaten an offside trap and he was quickly dispossessed. Mutizwa’s cracker two minutes later was spilt by Rhinos goalkeeper Hebert Rusawo and Mgcini failed to utilise the fluff.
Bruce Kangwa’s strike in the 31st minute was punched away for a corner by Rusawo. Another close chance for Rhinos came in the 73rd minute, but Brighton Mugoni’s header from a Jameson Mukombwe cross went off target. Graham’s introduction into the midfield almost undid Bosso and Kaindu quickly realised that and dropped Zibande, moving Graham upfront. The first army charity match was played in March and Caps United beat Rhinos 2-0 at Rufaro Stadium.
Teams Highlanders: A Katsande, B Tshuma, B Kangwa, E Mudzingwa, D Ndlovu, D Sibanda, M Sibanda (B Nkomo 53rd minute), S Munawa, O Zibande, P Moyo (G Ncube 70th minute), K Mutizwa (L Nyoni 56th minute) Black Rhinos: H Rusawo, J Mukombwe, M Kurewa, S Jimu, B Homora, O Gada, T Machacha, W Kapinda, M Mudewe (B Muzondiwa 61st minute), L Chiwunga, B Mugoni (E Mucheni 75th minute)
