Sports / Local
Bulawayo giants defiant
24 Jun 2014 at 09:52hrs | Views
Bulawayo giants Highlanders, who last won the league title in 2006, believe they can still dethrone arch-rivals Dynamos despite a painful 0-1 defeat by the Glamour Boys on Sunday.
Bosso, who were unbeaten in the league in 11 games prior to last Sunday's loss at the National Sports Stadium in Harare, are just a point off the top of the log with 18 games still to play and attacking midfielder Charles Sibanda insists the recent loss was not the end of the road for them.
Incidentally, Highlanders have played second fiddle to Dynamos over the past eight seasons and during that period they have failed to win the league title.
In fact, the last time Highlanders beat Dynamos in the league, the Bulawayo giants won the league title. That was in 2006.
But Sibanda believes Bosso were just unlucky on Sunday and the defeat is a result that cannot be used as a benchmark of their potential as title challengers.
"If one is to look at the match you will see that we were a bit unlucky as we conceded a silly goal. We were also a bit unlucky in-front of goal, so the loss should not be judged as the end of our campaign for the title as there are still many games to go," said Sibanda.
A league winner with Motor Action in 2010, Sibanda stated Bosso would bounce back from the painful defeat by DeMbare and focus on excelling during the rest of the campaign.
"It was unfortunate that our defence went to sleep but we still remain with one of the best defences in the country and I am confident that we will bounce back from the defeat and push for the title. We are still in the championship race," said the Zimbabwe international.
Highlanders gaffer Kevin Kaindu, who is still to defeat Dynamos in a competitive match since his appointment in 2012, is also convinced his side can win their 10th PSL title this year, provided they change their mentality.
"We did not play to expactations on Sunday. It was game in which we should have been more explosive, but we lacked character in the way we approached the game though we showed some improvement in the second half," said Kaindu, who felt Highlanders should have at least bagged a point away from home.
"We have to work on our character, particularly the mental aspect. We have to instill that winning mentality in our players so that we are stronger going forward.
"We will focus on the next match and hope to get back to winning ways," he added.
Bosso, who were unbeaten in the league in 11 games prior to last Sunday's loss at the National Sports Stadium in Harare, are just a point off the top of the log with 18 games still to play and attacking midfielder Charles Sibanda insists the recent loss was not the end of the road for them.
Incidentally, Highlanders have played second fiddle to Dynamos over the past eight seasons and during that period they have failed to win the league title.
In fact, the last time Highlanders beat Dynamos in the league, the Bulawayo giants won the league title. That was in 2006.
But Sibanda believes Bosso were just unlucky on Sunday and the defeat is a result that cannot be used as a benchmark of their potential as title challengers.
"If one is to look at the match you will see that we were a bit unlucky as we conceded a silly goal. We were also a bit unlucky in-front of goal, so the loss should not be judged as the end of our campaign for the title as there are still many games to go," said Sibanda.
"It was unfortunate that our defence went to sleep but we still remain with one of the best defences in the country and I am confident that we will bounce back from the defeat and push for the title. We are still in the championship race," said the Zimbabwe international.
Highlanders gaffer Kevin Kaindu, who is still to defeat Dynamos in a competitive match since his appointment in 2012, is also convinced his side can win their 10th PSL title this year, provided they change their mentality.
"We did not play to expactations on Sunday. It was game in which we should have been more explosive, but we lacked character in the way we approached the game though we showed some improvement in the second half," said Kaindu, who felt Highlanders should have at least bagged a point away from home.
"We have to work on our character, particularly the mental aspect. We have to instill that winning mentality in our players so that we are stronger going forward.
"We will focus on the next match and hope to get back to winning ways," he added.
Source - Zim Mail
