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Bosso maintain winless pre-season run

by Mehluli Sibanda
08 Feb 2015 at 08:52hrs | Views
Highlanders 1 - 1 FC Platinum
BULAWAYO football giants Highlanders remained winless in the build up to the 2015 Castle Lager Premier Soccer League season when they played out a second successive draw, this time against FC Platinum at Barbourfields Stadium yesterday.

Highlanders, just like they did at the same venue against Chapungu last Sunday had to come from behind, but this time with 10 players on the field of play.

Donald Ngoma had put the visitors ahead in the first half with Bruce Kangwa finding the equaliser for the home side in the second half.

Highlanders were reduced to 10 men early into the second half after right back Webster Chingodza was shown a red card by referee Allan Basvi for a double footed lunge on Elvis Moyo. It was his second bookable offence after he had been booked for a rough tackle in the first half.

At the start of the match, action shifted from one end to the other with both teams coming close to scoring. Brian Muzondiwa could have put the Zvishavane team ahead only to shoot wide in the fourth minute when he met a cross from troublesome Walter Musona.

Five minutes later, Ozias Zibande headed wide off target from a corner kick taken by Rahman Kutsanzira.

FC Platinum took the lead 20 minutes into the match from a quick counter attack, Raphael Muduviwa pushing the ball to Musona who picked out an unmarked Ngoma who beat an exposed Njabulo Nyoni in goals for Highlanders.

Kangwa produced what was a miss of the day in the 37th minute when he found himself free in the box only to shoot over the bar.

Bongani Mafu, the Highlanders coach made three changes at the beginning of the second half which seemed to spark his team into life. Lindelani Ncube, Simba Sithole and Simon Munawa were pulled out with their places taken up by Felix Chindungwe, Knox Mutizwa as well as Welcome Ndiweni.

Five minutes into the second half saw Zibande take his time to shoot inside the box, when he eventually had a shot at goal, FC Platinum keeper Petros Mhari managed to squeeze the ball out for a corner.

Zibande wasted another opportunity to equalise for Highlanders in the 53rd minute, his header from a Welcome Ndiweni cross going wide.

With an hour gone, Kangwa went past a number of opposition defenders before forcing out a good save from Mhari with a powerful shot and five minutes later Zibande rattled the left corner of the goalposts with a ferocious strike taken with his left foot.

It was all square in the 72nd minute, Kangwa rifling into the nets after a fine cross from Mutizwa.
FC Platinum kept pushing for a win with Nyoni coming to Bosso's rescue. Substitute Nelson Mazivisa had his effort saved by Nyoni with 10 minutes left and the veteran keeper was at his best to deny FC Platinum skipper Thabani Kamusoko a minute into the referee's optional time.

Highlanders were using yesterday's match to finalise their 2015 squad which Mafu said is going to be ready by Tuesday ahead of the PSL deadline for registration of players on Friday. Highlanders were beaten 2-1 by Zifa Southern Region Division One side Black Boots in a friendly match played at Fairbridge before they were held to a 1-1 by Chapungu at Barbourfields Stadium in another season preparatory encounter.

FC Platinum on the other hand were using the match to fine tune for their trip to Kenya where they will play against Sofapaka FC in an Orange Confederation of African Confederations Cup match on Sunday.

With their head coach Norman Mapeza away attending a Caf A coaching course, assistant coach Patrick Mandizha took charge in FC Platinum's friendly match yesterday.

There will be fitness concerns for the platinum miners ahead of the journey to Kenya after Ngoma (ankle) and Tatenda Dzumbunu (knee) had to be withdrawn because of injury.

Teams
Highlanders: Njabulo Nyoni, Webster Chingodza, Julius Daudi, Lindelani Ncube (Chindungwe 46 minutes) Douglas Sibanda, Tendai Ngulube, Simon Munawa (Ndiweni 46 minutes), Bruce Kangwa (Muzanenhamo 88 minutes), Rahman Kutsanzira (Makaruse 74 minutes), Simba Sithole (Mutizwa 46 minutes), Ozias Zibande (Mlungisi Ncube 88minutes)

FC Platinum: Petros Mhari, Raphael Muduviwa, Elvis Moyo(Sibanda 76 minutes), Kelvin Moyo, Tatenda Dzumbunu (Kamudyariwa 56 minutes), Wisdom Mutasa (Shoko 66 minutes), Walter Musona (Mandiranga 90 minutes) Donald Ngoma (Chirwa 46 minutes), Thabani Kamusoko, Brian Muzondiwa (Mazivisa 75 minutes), Gift Bello


Source - sundaynews
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