HIGHLANDERS . . . . . . . . . . . 0
SIMBA BHORA . . . . . . . . . . . . 0
HIGHLANDERS yesterday struggled to break down a compact Simba Bhora, in a rather lukewarm Castle Lager Premier Soccer League encounter witnessed by a full house at Barbourfields Stadium.
Feeling aggrieved, the Highlanders technical team and players accosted the match officials after the game. They argued that Lynoth Chikuhwa's 78th minute header off a McKinnon Mushore cross was wrongly ruled out for offside. The match officials needed police escort to exit the field of play.
Besides Chikuhwa’s effort, the match was a drab as Simba never bothered Bosso goalkeeper Ariel Sibanda for the whole 90 minutes. The match was devoid of any action in the final third of each side, except in the last quarter when Bosso pushed more men forward in search of an elusive winner.
The Simba defence marshalled by captain Partson Jaure, Blessing Moyo and Webster Tafa did well to protect their goalkeeper Simba Chinani and they were tied at the back throughout the game.
The two best chances of the day fell to Highlanders. Godfrey Makaruse was sent through by an exquisite Mushore pass in the 41st, but instead of rounding off the outdrawn Chinani, he blasted his effort against the bemused goalkeeper.
In the 82nd minute, substitute Stanley Ngala's header was deflected by the impressive Chinani and Washington Navaya's rebound hit the post with the Bosso fans already celebrating.
- Inside Sport: Local stadiums in urgent need of attention
- Big send-off for Cont Mhlanga
- Inside sport: The right way to do it
- Bullets ease relegation fears
Keep Reading
Bosso coach Jose Baltemar Brito handed former Bulawayo City attacking midfielder Elshamar Farasi his first full debut in the place of Devine Mhindirira and the youngster put up a decent show in the 59 minutes he was on the field.
Tonderayi Ndiraya also handed young striker Nokutenda Mangezi his chance and was full of praise for the debutant who also put in a good shift against the imposing Bosso centreback pair of Peter Muduhwa and Mbongeni Ndlovu.
Brito felt that Simba played well and they deserved credit by coming to play at BF. He also bemoaned the officiating saying that the match officials were always against Highlanders.
Ndiraya said his boys were still learning, indicating that patience is needed before they can start to click as a team. He was also impressed by the way both teams threw youngsters into the fray and he believes that Zimbabwe football has a bright future.
