Sports / Soccer
Bosso rise to the TOP
23 Jun 2016 at 02:01hrs | Views
Highlanders 2-0 Border Strikers
HIGHLANDERS opened a two-point lead at the top of the Castle Lager Premiership table after beating plucky Border Strikers in dramatic fashion at Barbourfields Stadium yesterday.
Bosso coach Erol Akbay declared after the match that all eyes were now on the Bulawayo giants but his Border Strikers counterpart Saul Chaminuka blasted referee Allan Bhasvi for aiding Highlanders to victory, claiming the whistleman had "come into the match with the result in his pocket".
It was an afternoon that Bosso utility player Bruce Kangwa also shot to the top of the Golden Boot chart through his brace that took his tally to six goals; two clear of his teammates Knox Mutizwa and young Prince Dube, as well as FC Platinum's Obrey Chirwa.
Kangwa opened his account with a well taken penalty in the 58th minute after Frank Mukarati handled in an effort to clear a goal bound shot. Bhasvi, who was about five metres from the action, didn't hesitate to point to the spot.
The versatile Kangwa then killed the match as a contest with a 79th minute lawnmower after an excellent move involving three Bosso players.
It was, however, the opener that left Chaminuka bemused.
"I've a problem with how the match was handled. That wasn't a penalty. Why are we playing if matches end like this? Referees mustn't come for games with the results in their pocket just to hand them over. This is why teams win championships, but fail to do well in the African Safari," charged Chaminuka.
There was drama soon after Bhasvi awarded the penalty as Border Strikers players first surrounded the referee in protest before briefly walking off the pitch. Calm soon returned and Kangwa cooly slotted home, sending Border Strikers goalkeeper Talent Sunday the wrong way.
The match itself started with Bosso threatening to overrun their struggling opponents when Mutizwa was sent through in the fourth minute, but he was a shade too slow to strike at goal. Mutizwa managed to get to the ball and lay a pass across the face of goal to Simon Munawa, whose take off was slow allowing the visitors to clear their lines.
The visitors did not panic, but instead defended their goal in numbers, allowing Highlanders to come at them, with the central defensive pair of Ephraim Mwinga and Mukarati commanding their area well.
Bosso were almost caught off guard when Mukarati released a 30m shot that sailed over the bar in the sixth minute.
Mutizwa shook his head in disbelief on the quarter hour mark when he shot wide with goalkeeper Sunday at his mercy.
Bosso made an injury forced substitution in the 26th minute when King Nadolo limped off and was replaced by Brian Banda.
The second half saw Highlanders upping their game with Peter Muduhwa, who had been thrown into central defence to partner skipper Felix Chindungwe, a revelation to watch with his well calculated tackles and perfect passes that endeared him to the Highlanders' supporters. The Old Pumula-born lad was easily the man-of-the-match.
Border Strikers' substitute Junildy Borges, who came on for Munyaradzi Chirape, forced a corner kick in the 71st minute when his rising shot was parried by Njabulo Nyoni in goals for Bosso.
Three minutes later, action was in the visitors' goalmouth when a cross by Honest Moyo was headed over by Mutizwa, who was a handful for the visitors and could have easily scored a hat-trick had he not left his shooting boots at home.
Highlanders then doubled their tally when a wonder pass by Banda found an on-rushing Kangwa, who laid the ball to Mutizwa on the penalty box arc.
Mutizwa made light work of his marker before returning the ball to Kangwa, who obliged with a grounder that gave Sunday no chance.
"We're on top of the table and all eyes will be on us now. I, however, feel we should have won by a larger margin, but what's important is a win," said Akbay.
Teams
Highlanders: Njabulo Nyoni, King Nadolo (Brian Banda 26th min), Simon Munawa (Adrian Silla 83rd min), Prince Dube, Felix Chindungwe, Honest Moyo, Erick Mudzingwa, Peter Muduwa, Benson Phiri (Bukhosi Ncube 85th min). Unused Subs: Tendai Ndlovu, Tendai Ngulube, Kasimero Chimbadzwa, Ariel Sibanda
Border Strikers: Talent Sunday, Peter Muzondo, Micheal Variso, Ephraim Mwinga, Godfree Mukambi, Tinashe Mugadzaweta (Benjamin Chirumanzu 57th min), Hugh Chikosa, Munyaradzi Chirape (Junildy Borges 58th min), Tafadzwa Jaravani (William Nyoni 72nd min), Tabwe Kalungu, Unused Subs: Soul Chaminuka Jnr, Micheal Mwenya, Tawanda Muchaya, Gilbert Chigwandaza
HIGHLANDERS opened a two-point lead at the top of the Castle Lager Premiership table after beating plucky Border Strikers in dramatic fashion at Barbourfields Stadium yesterday.
Bosso coach Erol Akbay declared after the match that all eyes were now on the Bulawayo giants but his Border Strikers counterpart Saul Chaminuka blasted referee Allan Bhasvi for aiding Highlanders to victory, claiming the whistleman had "come into the match with the result in his pocket".
It was an afternoon that Bosso utility player Bruce Kangwa also shot to the top of the Golden Boot chart through his brace that took his tally to six goals; two clear of his teammates Knox Mutizwa and young Prince Dube, as well as FC Platinum's Obrey Chirwa.
Kangwa opened his account with a well taken penalty in the 58th minute after Frank Mukarati handled in an effort to clear a goal bound shot. Bhasvi, who was about five metres from the action, didn't hesitate to point to the spot.
The versatile Kangwa then killed the match as a contest with a 79th minute lawnmower after an excellent move involving three Bosso players.
It was, however, the opener that left Chaminuka bemused.
"I've a problem with how the match was handled. That wasn't a penalty. Why are we playing if matches end like this? Referees mustn't come for games with the results in their pocket just to hand them over. This is why teams win championships, but fail to do well in the African Safari," charged Chaminuka.
There was drama soon after Bhasvi awarded the penalty as Border Strikers players first surrounded the referee in protest before briefly walking off the pitch. Calm soon returned and Kangwa cooly slotted home, sending Border Strikers goalkeeper Talent Sunday the wrong way.
The match itself started with Bosso threatening to overrun their struggling opponents when Mutizwa was sent through in the fourth minute, but he was a shade too slow to strike at goal. Mutizwa managed to get to the ball and lay a pass across the face of goal to Simon Munawa, whose take off was slow allowing the visitors to clear their lines.
The visitors did not panic, but instead defended their goal in numbers, allowing Highlanders to come at them, with the central defensive pair of Ephraim Mwinga and Mukarati commanding their area well.
Bosso were almost caught off guard when Mukarati released a 30m shot that sailed over the bar in the sixth minute.
Mutizwa shook his head in disbelief on the quarter hour mark when he shot wide with goalkeeper Sunday at his mercy.
Bosso made an injury forced substitution in the 26th minute when King Nadolo limped off and was replaced by Brian Banda.
The second half saw Highlanders upping their game with Peter Muduhwa, who had been thrown into central defence to partner skipper Felix Chindungwe, a revelation to watch with his well calculated tackles and perfect passes that endeared him to the Highlanders' supporters. The Old Pumula-born lad was easily the man-of-the-match.
Border Strikers' substitute Junildy Borges, who came on for Munyaradzi Chirape, forced a corner kick in the 71st minute when his rising shot was parried by Njabulo Nyoni in goals for Bosso.
Three minutes later, action was in the visitors' goalmouth when a cross by Honest Moyo was headed over by Mutizwa, who was a handful for the visitors and could have easily scored a hat-trick had he not left his shooting boots at home.
Highlanders then doubled their tally when a wonder pass by Banda found an on-rushing Kangwa, who laid the ball to Mutizwa on the penalty box arc.
Mutizwa made light work of his marker before returning the ball to Kangwa, who obliged with a grounder that gave Sunday no chance.
"We're on top of the table and all eyes will be on us now. I, however, feel we should have won by a larger margin, but what's important is a win," said Akbay.
Teams
Highlanders: Njabulo Nyoni, King Nadolo (Brian Banda 26th min), Simon Munawa (Adrian Silla 83rd min), Prince Dube, Felix Chindungwe, Honest Moyo, Erick Mudzingwa, Peter Muduwa, Benson Phiri (Bukhosi Ncube 85th min). Unused Subs: Tendai Ndlovu, Tendai Ngulube, Kasimero Chimbadzwa, Ariel Sibanda
Border Strikers: Talent Sunday, Peter Muzondo, Micheal Variso, Ephraim Mwinga, Godfree Mukambi, Tinashe Mugadzaweta (Benjamin Chirumanzu 57th min), Hugh Chikosa, Munyaradzi Chirape (Junildy Borges 58th min), Tafadzwa Jaravani (William Nyoni 72nd min), Tabwe Kalungu, Unused Subs: Soul Chaminuka Jnr, Micheal Mwenya, Tawanda Muchaya, Gilbert Chigwandaza
Source - chronicle
