Bosso fans speak on poor performance

Highlanders fans were on Sunday left a dejected lot after the Bulawayo giants succumbed to their sixth loss of the season in a 1-0 defeat to city rivals How Mine at Barbourfields Stadium.

This result means Bosso now trails log leaders and bitter rivals Dynamos by four points with nine games still to be played in the race for the championship.

Bosso have been very inconsistent this season leading to social media networks being awash with various theories on the possible reasons behind the team's indifferent season.

Some sections have put the blame on former Highlanders captain Willard Khumalo, now the Welfare manager, who they feel interferes in technical matters given his history as a former club coach.

Others have said the buck stops with Zambian expatriate Kelvin Kaindu as he is sorely responsible for team selection by virtue of being the team's head coach.

The Daily News took to the streets of Bulawayo to interview football fans to get their take on the current state of affairs at Highlanders.

Nduduzo 'TK' Sibanda, a used textbook vendor, blamed Bosso's weekend defeat on the lack of commitment by the players.

"In my view some players are not committed to the team's cause and on Sunday the coaches should have introduced Eric Mudzingwa when they took off Mthulisi Maphosa because Mudzingwa always gives his best.

"The coach was also out thought by Beefy (Philani Ncube) but the bottom line is that the players have got to up their commitment levels," said Sibanda.

Imon 'Coach' Ncube, a sculptor based at the City Hall, said Highlanders' failure to be consistent stems from the technical team's failure to have a regular starting XI.

"It is difficult for the players to gel because the coaches keep tinkering with team selection and that does not augur well for a team to achieve consistency," Ncube said.

Addressing the issue of sabotage and meddling in team selection, Ncube said as fans they can only speculate but if there is any element of truth then it is up to the executive to put the matter to rest.

A female Highlanders supporter, Sevy Sibanda from Entumbane, urged her fellow fans to exercise patience as the title race is still open.

"The team just has to improve in the final third of the pitch as they create a lot of good chances which they however, fail to put away.

"As fans we must not lose hope and rally behind the team even when the chips are down because there are still a lot of games remaining in the season and I believe that the championship is still within our reach," said Sibanda.

A similar comment was made by a Dynamos supporter Martin Winston Chigondo.

"Highlanders are playing some very good football but their problem is that they are unable to convert their chances.

"The team's fans do not help matters as they are quick to turn on the players when the team is struggling. That should not be the case as some players tend to lose focus after being subjected to abuse," Chigondo said.

A coach at lower division outfit Toronto, Gift 'Ghetto' Nkala, said Highlanders were performing badly because of the material at the coach's disposal.

"Highlanders have been playing without a hard man in their midfield and the coaches should consider reinstating Eric Mudzingwa to that position.

"Playing Mudzingwa as the anchorman would free Mthulisi (Maphosa) to play in a more advanced position and improve the team's attack as the strikers are not getting a clean supply of balls," Nkala said.

This view was shared by fruits vendor, Parliament Ncube, who said the midfield department was Highlanders' Achilles Heel.

"A team needs a strong holding midfield to provide cover to the defence and currently that is lacking at Highlanders.

"We may as well as stop going to watch the matches at Barbourfields because it is painful to watch the team performing well below par after paying our hard earned money to get into the stadium," said Ncube.

The same sentiment was shared by Romeo Nxumalo, who runs a small business in the city.

"To us Highlanders is more than just a football club. It is part of who we are as the people of Bulawayo and we urge all those involved with the running of the club to put their act together before it is too late," Nxumalo said.

Highlanders are in third position on the log with 37 points from 21 games while second placed Harare City is on 39 points and log leaders Dynamos have 41 points.