ON May 4 this year Highlanders got their biggest win of the 2014 Castle Lager Premier Soccer League season with a 4-0 clinical demolition of Caps United at Barbourfields Stadium (BF).
FORTUNE MBELE
SPORTS REPORTER
The goals came from former Caps United striker Rahman Kutsanzira, marking his return to the Bulawayo giants after a two-year sojourn with the Green Machine, young Ozias Zibande, Kudakwashe Mahachi who has since joined Mamelodi Sundowns and Cleopas Dube, now at Witbank Spurs.
Assistant coach Mark Mathe was in charge of Highlanders on that day and this weekend, he hits the road to Harare for Caps United in the second round of the league in the hot seat once again after the departure of Zambian Kelvin Kaindu.
Kaindu confirmed to MTNFootball that he had indeed left Bosso: “I have left Highlanders by mutual consent and I am coming back home.
I had a great three seasons.”
Kaindu was away in the United Kingdom where he was attending a Uefa B licensing course when Bosso romped to the massive victory over the Green Machine.
Mathe has been in charge of Bosso’s training sessions since they parted ways with Kaindu last week after the Bulawayo giants suffered a 1-3 humiliating defeat to ZPC Kariba at Hartsfield Rugby Grounds on September 28, stifling their chances of winning the league title.
Highlanders now perch on position four with 38 points, seven behind Dynamos, who are eyeing their fourth consecutive title under coach Kalisto Pasuwa.
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Mathe is in charge against Caps United, who are three points above Bosso and definitely seeking revenge after the 4-0 thumping at BF.
The Highlanders gaffer has not been given the leeway to speak to the media on technical issues yet, with Bosso still finalising issues with Kaindu, who left the country for his homeland Zambia on Saturday. He is expected to return next week.
Kutsanzira, the former Caps United player who opened the floodgates in the 4-0 drubbing of the Green Machine before he was sidelined due to injury, is back and said Bosso just had to win all their remaining matches.
He scored for Bosso with a beautiful header when they lost 1-3 to ZPC Kariba in their last league match.
“I am not going there to prove any point to anyone. I don’t want to dwell much on our game against Caps United, but we must just win all our remaining matches,” Kutsanzira said.
Mathe’s uphill task starts with the game against Caps United before taking on Chicken Inn, travelling to the Colliery for Hwange and then to Zvishavane for Shabanie Mine who are fighting relegation.
Bosso will host Chiredzi and Chapungu at Hartsfield. A top-four finish would see Highlanders defending the Mbada Diamonds Cup. The Bulawayo giants have another cup tie against Harare City in the semi-finals of the Chibuku Super Cup.
For Mathe, nicknamed Duvillard after Swiss coach Mark, there is no time to settle.
Players must respond positively since all the blame for the past losses has been on the technical team and fans will be waiting to see the results of the new dispensation.
Caps United, on the other hand, have had a roller coaster season — player strikes, crowd violence and pressure on the coach Taurayi Mangwiro to quit — but they have soldiered on and last week’s 1-0 away win over Black Rhinos did the trick.
The Green Machine fans are now quiet and are waiting for their biggest match of the season this weekend.
The match is likely to be moved to Sunday to accommodate the other big match on Saturday which will feature Harare City and FC Platinum at Rufaro Stadium.
Dynamos are away to Buffaloes at Sakubva on Sunday.
