BY FORTUNE MBELE HIGHLANDERS forward Stanley Ngala reckons the solitary goal that he scored and earned the Bulawayo giants the Independence Day Trophy on Sunday at Barbourfields Stadium is a trigger for him to score many more.
Ngala joined Highlanders in January from FC Platinum, but the striker has struggled for goals, only banging in one goal in 11 league games in the 4-0 mauling of Herentals at BF on March 13.
Midfielder and vice-captain Nqobizitha Masuku is the leading scorer at the Bulawayo giants with five goals.
He hopes to build on his 55th minute strike that boosted his confidence, having been on the dry spell for some time now.
“I don’t know how to describe the goal. I have not been scoring for a very long time. I have been playing, but I have not been scoring. I hope that goal is a morale booster,” Ngala told NewsDay Sport after the match.
“From this match going forward, I think I will be scoring more goals and help the team to win. This is a big relief. It is not easy to please this huge Highlanders crowd, but I am happy today that against Dynamos, I managed to score.”
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Ngala got US$1 500 from Sakunda Holdings for the top goal scorer of the competition.
His skipper, goalkeeper Ariel Sibanda, who shut down Dynamos’ incessant raids, especially in the first half from exciting winger Bill Antonio, also got US$1 500 for keeping a clean sheet in the invitational tournament.
The man of the match award went to defender, Peter Muduhwa who had a good game and took it upon himself to frustrate Antonio, who was a thorn in the flesh for left back Mbongeni Ndlovu.
Muduhwa got US$1 500.
Coach Mandla “Lulu” Mpofu picked up US$2 250 and all the assistant coaches, Bekithemba Ndlovu, Joel Luphahla and goalkeepers’ coach Julius Ndlovu will share US$6 000.
But Mpofu says they have to cut short their celebrations and focus on the league as they face champions FC Platinum in their next game at Mandava Stadium.
“We need to cut our celebrations short. We are playing FC Platinum in five days’ time. There is no time to celebrate, we need to plan,” he said.
Dynamos got US$9 000 from Sakunda and a government purse of $4,5 million after losing the finals.
Next up for Dynamos is Manica Diamonds at the National Sports Stadium.
Castle Lager Premier Soccer League fixtures
Saturday: Tenax vs Yadah (Sakubva), Harare City vs Black Rhinos (National Sports Stadium), FC Platinum vs Highlanders (Mandava), Chicken Inn vs Bulawayo City (Luveve), ZPC Kariba vs Ngezi Platinum Stars (Nyamhunga)
Sunday: Cranborne Bullets vs Herentals (Sakubva), Dynamos vs Manica Diamonds (National Sports Stadium), Bulawayo Chiefs vs WhaWha (Luveve), Triangle vs Caps United (Gibbo)
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