Highlanders coach Peter De Jongh's has heaped praises on veteran goalkeeper Ariel Sibanda following his heroics last saw, which saw him carry Bosso to the semi-finals of the Chibuku Super Cup after beating Scottland in a thriller at Barbourfields Stadium
Bosso won 2-1 on penalties after the match finished two all in regulation time.
Sibanda, the club's captain, was side-lined for the better part of the season, with Reward Muza and Raphael Pitisi preferred ahead of him.
The 39-year-old Bosso veteran was no longer a crowd favourite with fans calling for his retirement.
Sibanda took part in a goalkeeper's coaching course earlier in the year, showing that he was also thinking of hanging up his gloves.
However, his performance on Sunday was a definite pull from the top drawer, proving doubters wrong.
During the penalty shootout, Sibanda denied three Scottland players.
His agility was notable when he denied Terrence Dzukamanja and Godknows Murwira, something that De Jongh said proved he was still fit enough to play in the top-flight league.
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"You write a lot of stories in the newspapers, magazines, radios and television without facts," he said.
"You don't know how I train, the decisions I make and why I make those decisions."
De Jongh said he noticed that the team lacked leadership when he re-joined the club.
"When Ariel is in the team there is balance and leadership," he said.
"That was the reason for me to bring him in as the number one.
"There was no leadership in the team."
He added: "He is a guy with experience and is the captain of the team.
"From my observation at training, the team was missing leadership and Ariel is proving that (bringing him back) was the right decision week in, week out."
Sibanda holds the record of winning the goalkeeper of the year four times, which places him as one of the legends of local football.
Scottland coach Tonderai Ndiraya was also puzzled at how his players missed their spot kicks, as they were all clinical during their training sessions, pre the quarter-final clash.
"I think our players were under immense pressure from the game itself and the penalty shootouts," he said.
"We failed to convert and only converted one.
"But if you look at how we trained those penalties, all those who missed were very good."
He was quick to also mention Sibanda's heroics and the pressure that was on his boys throughout the afternoon.
"But I also should give credit to Ariel," he said.
"I think we all know Ariel.
"He is very good at saving penalties and he did that, so credit to him and Highlanders for coming back into the game and they showed character."
Ever since De Jongh took over from Try Ncube, who held the position on an interim basis, he has preferred Sibanda ahead of the two other young goalkeepers.
Highlanders will take on their arch-rivals Dynamos next month in the Chibuku semi-finals, which promises to be an electrifying encounter at Rufaro Stadium.
Fixtures
Semi-Final 1: Saturday, October 25, MWOS FC vs Triangle Utd at Ngoni Stadium
Semi-Final 2: Sunday, October 26, Dynamos vs Highlanders at Rufaro Stadium
