HIGHLANDERS will attempt to make up for their Chibuku Super Cup exit at the hands of Caps United on Sunday, when they entertain Sheasham in a Castle Lager Premier Soccer League match at Barbourfields (BF) Stadium this afternoon. Bosso seek to keep their league title fight alive following a recent poor run.
The Bulawayo giants are rapidly becoming a pale shadow of their former selves when they notched a Castle Lager Premier Soccer League 19-match unbeaten run which was halted by a 2-0 defeat to FC Platinum in August at Mandava Stadium. This was followed by another 2-0 loss to Chicken Inn at BF.
As if that was not enough, the Bulawayo giants’ next game against Dynamos was called off in the 37th minute due to crowd trouble with DeMbare leading 2-0; and as precedent has had it, the Glamour Boys are likely to get the three points from that match.
Highlanders later saved face by beating lowly Yadah at BF, succumbing to Hwange away in their last league match before the Chibuku exit on Sunday.
In the 19-match unbeaten streak they only conceded four goals, but have let in seven in the last five matches. They banged in 18 goals in their good run spending the better part of the first half of the season at the top of the log table. They have only scored two goals which came against Yadah in the last five matches, a huge dent on their title campaign.
Most Bosso goals have emanated from set pieces with defenders Andrew Mbeba, Mbongeni Ndlovu, Peter Muduhwa and midfielder Melikhaya Ncube topping the chart of goal scorers in the wake of lethargic strike force of Lynoth Chikuhwa, Stanley Ngala and Washington Navaya.
Highlanders have also been hit by injuries of key players Godfrey Makaruse, Devine Mhindirira, Darlington Mukuli, Ngala, Chigonero and Ariel Sibanda and Marvelous Chigumira. Despite the ugly turn of fortunes, the Baltemar Brito-coached Bulawayo giants are still on position two on the log table ahead of the Sheasham clash.
Bosso cannot afford another drop of points, especially with Ngezi Platinum Stars now in cruise mode, stringing one win after another. Sheasham are desperate to extricate themselves from the relegation zone after an indifferent show under coach Lizwe Sweswe who took over from John Nyikadzino.
Sweswe has won four matches in 10 outings with two draws and four defeats and the Gweru-based Construction Boys are in position 14 on the log standings with 26 points, just one from the relegation cut-off point.
Source Newsday
