Sports / Local
Bosso fans demand Bongani Mafu's ouster
04 May 2015 at 08:58hrs | Views
'Bunch of losers'
Highlanders 0-1 Caps United
ANGRY Highlanders Football Club supporters demanded that club chairman Peter Dube immediately sacks head coach Bongani Mafu following a 0-1 defeat to Caps United at Barbourfields Stadium yesterday.
It was Bosso's second loss on the trot at home after an identical 0-1 loss to a then winless Chapungu that saw fans holding a peaceful demonstration in which they marched from the stadium to the Highlanders club house.
Yesterday the fans again besieged the club house and Dube, who rarely goes to the club house after matches, drove through only to be met by very angry supporters.
A clearly dejected Dube could only listen in silence as supporters vented their anger on him and demanded that he fires the head coach or he (Dube) will face the music during the club's mid-year meeting.
One fan was restrained by his friends as he tried to manhandle Dube, who was retained as club chairman unopposed recently after his challenger Ernest Maphepha Sibanda was disqualified from the election by the electoral committee.
"We'll soon begin to suspect that you're enjoying seeing us being humiliated at home like this. Our faith in your leadership is fading very fast and it's either you fire Mafu or we'll remove you from that post well before your tenure ends," said one fan.
Dube remained quiet all along but was seen nodding his head, probably in agreement with the fans that heads must roll.
The fans' anger was further worsened by the club's decision to increase gate charges that saw the rest of the ground going for $5. Very few fans watched the big encounter yesterday.
Mafu, speaking soon after the game, said they needed to start getting goals if they are to win matches. He also said the 26th minute goal by visiting centre back Stephen Makatuka took the steam out of his boys.
"Goals keep on eluding us, we need to get goals. Confidence and composure is also needed on the part of our strikers when in front of goal," he said.
Highlanders have scored just three goals in 630 minutes of league football so far, the worst by any team.
An elated Mark Harrison, the Caps United coach said his team deserved to win as they were all over Highlanders.
"Make no mistake about this result, we deserved to win and with a bit of luck, we could've hammered them by more than three goals in the first half. I'm so proud of my boys. They're the best bunch of players I've worked with in my entire career," said Harrison.
Makepekepe started asking questions as early as the first minute after a defence splitting pass by Malawian George Nyirenda saw Takudzwa Mahori breaking through but Bosso right back Webster Chingodza's timely sliding tackle saved the situation for the city giants.
Two minutes later, Moses Muchenje shook his head in disbelief as his shot went off the bar as Makepekepe showed no respect for their hosts.
In the 16th minute, speed merchant Gabriel Nyoni was hacked down just in front of the visitors' bench but Chingodza made a mess of the resultant set piece.
In the 25th minute Makatuka's dipping header from inside the box was blocked for a corner by Bruce Kangwa and the corner kick proved to be Bosso's Achilles' heel. It was delivered by Gerald Phiri and the overlapping Makatuka rose high to nod home the goal, which after 90 minutes, proved to be the match winner.
Highlanders could have levelled two minutes later but Ozias Zibande skied his effort off a cross from Kangwa who had left Hardlife Zvirekwi for dead on the right side.
Sensing danger, Mafu pulled out Valentine Ndaba for Rahman Kutsanzira but the move did not pay any dividends. It was, in fact, Caps United who almost doubled their lead through a Mahori 35-metre pile driver in the 39th minute that was however punched for a corner by Ariel Sibanda in goal for Bosso.
Seconds into the second stanza dependable defender Teenage Hadebe miscued the ball and it fell on the predatory Rodrick Mutuma who charged towards goal while Ariel also came out of his line to narrow the angle.
Ariel's decision was spot-on as Mutuma watched in disbelief as his low shot was saved.
In the 54th minute, Zibande shockingly delivered a weak shot at Chris Mverechena, in goal for Caps United. It was to be Simon Munawa's turn three minutes later to deliver a weak effort as Amahlolanyama hunted for that elusive equaliser.
Four minutes before time, Kutsanzira could have stolen a draw from the jaws of defeat but his goal-bound bullet hit a Caps United defender with goalkeeper Mverechena on the wrong end of action. Two minutes later Munawa was unlucky to miss by inches with a scissors kick.
Teams:
Highlanders: A Sibanda, W Chingodza, F Chindungwe, B Kangwa, S Munawa, V Ndaba (R Kutsanzira 31st min), N Masuku, T Hadebe, O Zibande (K Nadolo 79th min), O Tarumbwa, G Nyoni (T Chideu 62nd min)
Unused subs: W Ndiweni, T Ngulube, E Mudzingwa, T Mutanga
Caps United: C Mverechena, H Zvirekwi, G Nyirenda, S Makatuka, R Matova, D Mukandi, M Muchenje, L Fiyado (V Musarurwa 71st min), R Mutuma, T Mahori (C Machisa 82nd min), G Phiri (L Tsipa, 62nd min)
Unused subs: G Mangani, T Moyo, J Muchambo, K Nyamupfukudza
Results:
Yesterday:
Dynamos 0-3 Chicken Inn; Highlanders 0-1 Caps United; Triangle United 3-1 Harare City; Buffaloes 2-2 Chapungu; Hwange 2-2 Dongo Sawmill.
Saturday: How Mine 6-0 Whawha; ZPC Kariba 1-1 Flame Lily.
ANGRY Highlanders Football Club supporters demanded that club chairman Peter Dube immediately sacks head coach Bongani Mafu following a 0-1 defeat to Caps United at Barbourfields Stadium yesterday.
It was Bosso's second loss on the trot at home after an identical 0-1 loss to a then winless Chapungu that saw fans holding a peaceful demonstration in which they marched from the stadium to the Highlanders club house.
Yesterday the fans again besieged the club house and Dube, who rarely goes to the club house after matches, drove through only to be met by very angry supporters.
A clearly dejected Dube could only listen in silence as supporters vented their anger on him and demanded that he fires the head coach or he (Dube) will face the music during the club's mid-year meeting.
One fan was restrained by his friends as he tried to manhandle Dube, who was retained as club chairman unopposed recently after his challenger Ernest Maphepha Sibanda was disqualified from the election by the electoral committee.
"We'll soon begin to suspect that you're enjoying seeing us being humiliated at home like this. Our faith in your leadership is fading very fast and it's either you fire Mafu or we'll remove you from that post well before your tenure ends," said one fan.
Dube remained quiet all along but was seen nodding his head, probably in agreement with the fans that heads must roll.
The fans' anger was further worsened by the club's decision to increase gate charges that saw the rest of the ground going for $5. Very few fans watched the big encounter yesterday.
Mafu, speaking soon after the game, said they needed to start getting goals if they are to win matches. He also said the 26th minute goal by visiting centre back Stephen Makatuka took the steam out of his boys.
"Goals keep on eluding us, we need to get goals. Confidence and composure is also needed on the part of our strikers when in front of goal," he said.
Highlanders have scored just three goals in 630 minutes of league football so far, the worst by any team.
An elated Mark Harrison, the Caps United coach said his team deserved to win as they were all over Highlanders.
"Make no mistake about this result, we deserved to win and with a bit of luck, we could've hammered them by more than three goals in the first half. I'm so proud of my boys. They're the best bunch of players I've worked with in my entire career," said Harrison.
Makepekepe started asking questions as early as the first minute after a defence splitting pass by Malawian George Nyirenda saw Takudzwa Mahori breaking through but Bosso right back Webster Chingodza's timely sliding tackle saved the situation for the city giants.
Two minutes later, Moses Muchenje shook his head in disbelief as his shot went off the bar as Makepekepe showed no respect for their hosts.
In the 16th minute, speed merchant Gabriel Nyoni was hacked down just in front of the visitors' bench but Chingodza made a mess of the resultant set piece.
Highlanders could have levelled two minutes later but Ozias Zibande skied his effort off a cross from Kangwa who had left Hardlife Zvirekwi for dead on the right side.
Sensing danger, Mafu pulled out Valentine Ndaba for Rahman Kutsanzira but the move did not pay any dividends. It was, in fact, Caps United who almost doubled their lead through a Mahori 35-metre pile driver in the 39th minute that was however punched for a corner by Ariel Sibanda in goal for Bosso.
Seconds into the second stanza dependable defender Teenage Hadebe miscued the ball and it fell on the predatory Rodrick Mutuma who charged towards goal while Ariel also came out of his line to narrow the angle.
Ariel's decision was spot-on as Mutuma watched in disbelief as his low shot was saved.
In the 54th minute, Zibande shockingly delivered a weak shot at Chris Mverechena, in goal for Caps United. It was to be Simon Munawa's turn three minutes later to deliver a weak effort as Amahlolanyama hunted for that elusive equaliser.
Four minutes before time, Kutsanzira could have stolen a draw from the jaws of defeat but his goal-bound bullet hit a Caps United defender with goalkeeper Mverechena on the wrong end of action. Two minutes later Munawa was unlucky to miss by inches with a scissors kick.
Teams:
Highlanders: A Sibanda, W Chingodza, F Chindungwe, B Kangwa, S Munawa, V Ndaba (R Kutsanzira 31st min), N Masuku, T Hadebe, O Zibande (K Nadolo 79th min), O Tarumbwa, G Nyoni (T Chideu 62nd min)
Unused subs: W Ndiweni, T Ngulube, E Mudzingwa, T Mutanga
Caps United: C Mverechena, H Zvirekwi, G Nyirenda, S Makatuka, R Matova, D Mukandi, M Muchenje, L Fiyado (V Musarurwa 71st min), R Mutuma, T Mahori (C Machisa 82nd min), G Phiri (L Tsipa, 62nd min)
Unused subs: G Mangani, T Moyo, J Muchambo, K Nyamupfukudza
Results:
Yesterday:
Dynamos 0-3 Chicken Inn; Highlanders 0-1 Caps United; Triangle United 3-1 Harare City; Buffaloes 2-2 Chapungu; Hwange 2-2 Dongo Sawmill.
Saturday: How Mine 6-0 Whawha; ZPC Kariba 1-1 Flame Lily.
Source - chronicle
