Can Oba turn back the hands of time?

Sport
OBADIAH Tarumbwa was part of the Highlanders squad that last won the championship in 2006 under coach Methembe Ndlovu together with the likes of Honour Gombami, Vusa Nyoni, Gilbert Banda, Erick Mudzingwa, Ralph Matema, Master Masiku, Ricky Sibiya and former Warriors’ skipper Tapuwa Kapini, among others.

OBADIAH Tarumbwa was part of the Highlanders squad that last won the championship in 2006 under coach Methembe Ndlovu together with the likes of Honour Gombami, Vusa Nyoni, Gilbert Banda, Erick Mudzingwa, Ralph Matema, Master Masiku, Ricky Sibiya and former Warriors’ skipper Tapuwa Kapini, among others.

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Gombami and Nyoni left for Belgium before the end of the season in 2006 to join Cercle Brugge and Tarumbwa was to join them in Europe in 2008.

After Belgium, Tarumbwa failed to settle having stints in Cyprus, Kenya and South Africa before eventually returning to join Bantu Rovers last season.

But he has moved on again back to the club that gave him a name – Highlanders.

And if his performance against How Mine in Highlanders 1-0 win in the ZNA Charity Shield semi-final at Barbourfields Stadium on Sunday is anything to go by, then Bosso will definitely be counting on the veteran striker’s experience this season.

The 2015 Castle Lager Premier Soccer League season kicks off on Friday with the Bulawayo giants hitting the road to Harare on Saturday for a date with ZPC Kariba, a team that shattered their title hopes with a 3-1 defeat at Hartsfield Rugby Ground last September.

It was the match that saw then coach Kelvin Kaindu bid farewell to his players and assistants.

 “That is what we explicitly brought him for (Tarumbwa’s experience). He is an experienced player, but he should have scored two more goals.
“That is what we explicitly brought him for (Tarumbwa’s experience). He is an experienced player, but he should have scored two more goals.

Back to Tarumbwa . . . the veteran Bosso striker, who played behind out-and-out young striker Thomas Chideu, combined well with former teammate at Bantu Rovers, Nqobizitha Masuku, and left linkman Bruce Kangwa, and his cross from the right produced the goal that sent Highlanders through to the final of soldiers’ charities tournament.

Head coach Bongani Mafu, albeit indicating Tarumbwa could have been behind two more goals for Highlanders, said the veteran player’s experience was needed.

“That is what we explicitly brought him for (Tarumbwa’s experience). He is an experienced player, but he should have scored two more goals. He has got to do more, but we work as a unit at Highlanders and cannot say that we will bank on Tarumbwa. His experience should be helpful, but we are a football team and will not depend on an individual,” Mafu said yesterday.

Although good on the offensive, Mafu’s midfield was found wanting on recovery on Sunday with anchorman Erick Mudzingwa failing to hold fort, forcing the mentor to move skipper Felix Chindungwe into the centre after How Mine had introduced Kudakwashe Musharu and Wonder Sithole.

“There are still some parts to be improved, but we showed signs of positional play and good movement off the ball,” Mafu said yesterday.

Masuku fizzled out in the centre and the coming in of Knox Mutizwa for the impressive Chideu in the 68th minute appeared rather a bad move.

How Mine, who take on Chapungu on Sunday at Luveve in their first league match, were not a bad side either although coach Luke Masomere said veteran striker Limited Chikafa and Tawanda Muparati will be out for some time due to injury.

Former Highlanders striker Mgcini Sibanda showed a few flashes of brilliance while Musharu and Sithole who came in just after the one-hour mark posed a danger for Highlanders.