Sports / Local
Bosso turns to Gabriel for redemption
27 Nov 2013 at 13:02hrs | Views
HIGHLANDERS FC have turned to young Gabriel Nyoni for redemption ahead of the Mbada Diamonds Cup final at Barbourfields Stadium on Saturday.
Despite winning 3-1 against Shabanie Mine on Sunday, Highlanders wasted over a dozen gilt-edged chances to blow away their chances of clinching the championship.
An extra three goals would have been enough for Bosso to win their first league title since 2006.
Coach Kelvin Kaindu confirmed yesterday that they had designed a special programme to accommodate the player who is writing his marketing examinations at the National University of Science and Technology.
Bosso have to work on their strike force ahead of the showdown with How Mine whom they have never scored against in their only two meetings.
The Bulawayo giants will be facing How Mine for the third time this year having lost both their league encounters. Those six points made a lot of difference to Bosso's championship aspirations which were further dented by a 4-0 humiliation by Harare City in Week 29 which ultimately cost Bosso the title.
In the first league match, Bosso lost 2-1 benefiting from a Hebert Dick own goal. Dick went on to equalise for the miners before former Highlanders striker Nqobile Mpala got the winner for the league debutantes.
It was also a former Highlanders player Warren Dube who returned to Barbourfields Stadium to haunt Bosso with a fine volley on Week 21 as How Mine completed their double with a 1-0 win.
On Saturday, the question is: will former Highlanders players at How Mine spell doom for Bosso who are seeking solace in the Mbada Diamonds Cup after missing the championship on an inferior goal difference to Dynamos for the second successive season?
Despite scoring the most goals (45) in the Premiership, Highlanders have been wasteful in front of goal failing to convert most chances that they create.
Even on the last day of the championship on Sunday against Shabanie Mine, Bosso, who won the game 3-1 courtesy of a brace by Milton Ncube and a strike by the club's leading goal scorer Njabulo Ncube, fluffed a lot of chances.
Masimba Mambare, Peter 'Rio' Moyo, Bheki Ncube, Heritein Masuku, Ozias Zibande and Milton Ncube took turns to miss glaring chances.
To increase his attacking options, Highlanders' coach Kaindu has organised special training sessions for his strikers which are meant to accommodate their Mbada Diamonds Cup leading goal scorer Gabriel Nyoni who has two goals to his account.
Nyoni was ruled out of the Shabanie Mine match as he was preparing for his examinations and Kaindu yesterday said they don't want to interfere with the player's academic programme.
The availability of the speed merchant, who needs to score at least a goal on Saturday to claim the tournament's Golden Boot Award which has a $1 000 prize money, is a boost for Highlanders.
"We can't take Gabriel out of school and right now he is pre-occupied with his examinations. We are working on coming up with a training programme that will either see his training held early in the morning with some guys or after our normal session. He is a brilliant player who I would like to be part of the squad as we prepare for the final," said Kaindu.
He said veteran Njabulo Ncube is still limping after picking up a knock against Shabanie Mine on Sunday but is hopeful that he will recover in time.
On Monday Highlanders had a light training session and yesterday all the players reported for training with the team doctor expected to assess Dumisani "Fazo" Ndlovu and Mthulisi Maphosa who missed their team's last match due to injury.
Maphosa trained with the club despite his alleged off the field problems.
Pitch invasion is discouraged by the league.
Fixtures
Mbada Diamonds Cup final
Saturday: Highlanders v How Mine (Barbourfields Stadium)
Despite winning 3-1 against Shabanie Mine on Sunday, Highlanders wasted over a dozen gilt-edged chances to blow away their chances of clinching the championship.
An extra three goals would have been enough for Bosso to win their first league title since 2006.
Coach Kelvin Kaindu confirmed yesterday that they had designed a special programme to accommodate the player who is writing his marketing examinations at the National University of Science and Technology.
Bosso have to work on their strike force ahead of the showdown with How Mine whom they have never scored against in their only two meetings.
The Bulawayo giants will be facing How Mine for the third time this year having lost both their league encounters. Those six points made a lot of difference to Bosso's championship aspirations which were further dented by a 4-0 humiliation by Harare City in Week 29 which ultimately cost Bosso the title.
In the first league match, Bosso lost 2-1 benefiting from a Hebert Dick own goal. Dick went on to equalise for the miners before former Highlanders striker Nqobile Mpala got the winner for the league debutantes.
It was also a former Highlanders player Warren Dube who returned to Barbourfields Stadium to haunt Bosso with a fine volley on Week 21 as How Mine completed their double with a 1-0 win.
On Saturday, the question is: will former Highlanders players at How Mine spell doom for Bosso who are seeking solace in the Mbada Diamonds Cup after missing the championship on an inferior goal difference to Dynamos for the second successive season?
Despite scoring the most goals (45) in the Premiership, Highlanders have been wasteful in front of goal failing to convert most chances that they create.
Masimba Mambare, Peter 'Rio' Moyo, Bheki Ncube, Heritein Masuku, Ozias Zibande and Milton Ncube took turns to miss glaring chances.
To increase his attacking options, Highlanders' coach Kaindu has organised special training sessions for his strikers which are meant to accommodate their Mbada Diamonds Cup leading goal scorer Gabriel Nyoni who has two goals to his account.
Nyoni was ruled out of the Shabanie Mine match as he was preparing for his examinations and Kaindu yesterday said they don't want to interfere with the player's academic programme.
The availability of the speed merchant, who needs to score at least a goal on Saturday to claim the tournament's Golden Boot Award which has a $1 000 prize money, is a boost for Highlanders.
"We can't take Gabriel out of school and right now he is pre-occupied with his examinations. We are working on coming up with a training programme that will either see his training held early in the morning with some guys or after our normal session. He is a brilliant player who I would like to be part of the squad as we prepare for the final," said Kaindu.
He said veteran Njabulo Ncube is still limping after picking up a knock against Shabanie Mine on Sunday but is hopeful that he will recover in time.
On Monday Highlanders had a light training session and yesterday all the players reported for training with the team doctor expected to assess Dumisani "Fazo" Ndlovu and Mthulisi Maphosa who missed their team's last match due to injury.
Maphosa trained with the club despite his alleged off the field problems.
Pitch invasion is discouraged by the league.
Fixtures
Mbada Diamonds Cup final
Saturday: Highlanders v How Mine (Barbourfields Stadium)
Source - chronicle
