Akbay has no plans of buying new players

HIGHLANDERS coach Erol Akbay seems to have no immediate plans to bring in players to strengthen his side in preparation for the second half of the season.

The Bulawayo giants were convincingly beaten 0-2 by Chicken Inn in a Castle Lager Premier Soccer League match on Sunday, with the champions reducing the league leaders to an ordinary outfit.

Chicken Inn scored through Obidiah Tarumbwa and Clemence Matawu.

The Gamecocks outclassed Bosso and exposed their weakness, especially in midfield where Akbay lost his plot as the rigid Simon Munawa and Douglas Sibanda failed to match the trio of Matawu, Tafadzwa Kutinyu and Thabani Goredema in the centre of the park.

The champions had a virtual party in central midfield and Akbay seems to have lost the plot when he tinkered with that department.

Why Akbay decided to bench Erick Mudzingwa, who seemed to have established himself well as an anchorman and hand Sibanda a rare start, only God knows.

Apart from that, Chicken Inn had a solid game plan, which saw them congesting the midfield and in the process forcing Bosso to spend the entire afternoon looking for the ball.

Tarumbwa gave the Highlanders backline a torrid time, while right-back Passmore Bernard ensured that Highlanders' player of the moment Bruce Kangwa couldn't venture forward to assist his team in attack.

So terrible was Highlanders' performance that they struggled to string together more than three passes.

Highlanders clearly had no spine and lacked creativity, and to a certain extent Knox Mutizwa's absence was heavily felt.

Before Sunday, Highlanders had gone unbeaten for nine games but Chicken Inn restricted them to a single shot at goal, a weak effort, for that matter, from Kangwa on the stroke of halftime.

Akbay was sent to the terraces by referee Pilani Ncube for slamming the ball on Bernard accusing him of time wasting 15 minutes from time as frustration got the better of the Dutchman.

When asked if he was going to beef up his squad, Akbay said: "If there are any good players, I'll take them, but I've to do with what I have."

Confidence should be low at Bosso following Sunday's loss and their reaction will show if they have any championship qualities.

Harare giants Caps United also faltered and were held to a 1-1 draw by Hwange. Caps United are third on the table with 25 points, one behind Highlanders after 12 matches.

FC Platinum capitalised on Bosso and Caps United's slip to move on par with the Bulawayo giants after beating Mutare City Rovers 2-1 at Sakubva Stadium.

They're tied on points with Bosso, who have a superior goal difference, and the platinum miners have a chance of shooting to the top should they win or draw against Chicken Inn tomorrow.

Former champions Dynamos have been making a steady rise and recorded their fourth consecutive win by edging Bulawayo City 1-0 at Barbourfields Stadium on Saturday. City dominated the match, but failed to turn their superior possession into goals.

Dynamos are now fifth on 20 points off 12 games and trail the log leaders by six points.

Should the top teams continue with their inconsistent performances, DeMbare could reach the halfway mark firmly positioned to challenge for the title.

At the tail end, Border Strikers began life after sacked coach Saul Chaminuka with a 1-0 win over Moses Chunga's Harare City.

It was Strikers' second win of the season, but they remain glued to the bottom of the table despite the victory and are firm relegation favourites.

Second from the bottom Tsholotsho FC suffered a 0-1 defeat to Triangle United, while How Mine were shocked 1-2 by PSL debutants Ngezi Platinum.