The black and white story with Mkhuphali 'Cooper' Masuku

LOSS TO SAINTS WAS A BITTER PILL TO SWALLOW
--- to miss Gilbert Banda this weekend 
--- a number to pass late fitness test

IT is saddening that I pen this column right on the heels of crushing out of the Mbada Diamond Cup 16 team tournament following our 6-5 lose to our city rivals Zimbabwe Saints.

We had gone to Hwange to win at all costs so as to amend for the BancABC Sup8r Cup that we lost to Motor Action at our favourite hunt¬ing ground Barbourfields Stadium on 10 September.

I had hoped a glorious chance had presented its self for us to clinch this prestigious piece of silverware. Alas, Zimbabwe Saints had other thoughts; thoughts that broke the heart of everyone in the Highlanders set up and need I say much about our trip back to Bulawayo from Hwange: It was not an enjoyable trip as every¬one was DOWN AND DISAP¬POINTED.

In the match where we had a number of fans who were cheering up the team, we created a plethora of chances but the not so popular anthem of missing, missing, missing chances was read from the unknown hymn book by my charges.

It was a difficult pill to swallow, as we were all over Zimbabwe Saints for the entire 90 minutes. When we went for the dreaded penalty shootouts everyone on the bench had the confidence in our penalty takers hence the first five were converted. Unfortunately, veteran Innocent "Durawall" Mapuranga could not beat another veteran of many battles
 
Munyaradzi Diya when he took the sudden death penalty. Diya is Saints goalkeeper.

Chances went begging and we are out of the inaugural Mbada Diamond Cup contest which we have to accept as in football you win and lose some.

May the Football Gods smile at Chauya Chikwata through and through. Focus has shifted to the league campaign where it's seven rounds to go.

With regards to our weekend Castle Lager Premiership tie against Black Mambas at Morris Depot on Saturday, it's very much disturbing to tell all the Highlanders fans that we might be traveling to Harare without a number of key players due to injuries they picked.

Captain Gilbert Banda has already been ruled out of Saturday's game. Mapuranga, Louis Matawu, Graham Ncube and Simon Munawa are also on the injury list.
I hope they will pass late fitness tests.

We will obviously need to pick maximum points as the league has reached a crucial stage.

The Highlanders family deserves a lot of positive results from the boys come Saturday all the sad chapters that we have gone through will be buried for we need to finish the league in a respectable position.
Babeth' Kabulaw'...