HIGHLANDERS, with an indifferent start to the 2025 Castle Lager Premier Soccer League, hit the road to the Lowveld, to clash with returnees Triangle at Gibbo Stadium on Sunday.
Coach Kelvin Kaindu is concerned about his side dropping points in games that they have appeared to be on their way to victory, failing to defend a 2-0 lead to end in a draw against Green Fuel just before the international break, away from home.
In the match that followed against newboys Scottland FC at Barbourfields Stadium last Sunday, the Bulawayo giants gave away a 1-0 lead and allowed the Tonderai Ndiraya-coached side to walk away with a point after equalising in optional time.
“There are a lot of positives apart from the points that we have dropped,” Kaindu said.
“We look consistent in terms of going forward. We have improved in terms of goal-scoring.
“One area that we need to work is the ability to defend our lead, especially if we give away a game where we are leading and in the last kick of the match where opponents will get a goal.
“I think it is one area that we are focusing on. I think with a bit of time and with a bit of luck, that is one area that we need to manage.”
Added the Zambian: “The only thing that we need also is to work on our mental fitness, especially when we come out with a draw and our opponents come out celebrating.
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“When we draw and lose out points at the last minute, it’s more like you have lost the game. These are areas that we need to work on and make sure our players keep on believing.”
Kaindu is wary of the Sugar Boys, who have lost all their opening matches to Scottland, TelOne, Caps United and Ngezi Platinum.
“We are up and preparing for the encounter against Triangle,” the Amahlolanyama coach said.
“What we know is that they will be playing their first game in their usual ground, they have been playing their home games away from home.
“We know what they are capable of doing when they are playing at home.
“They haven’t started well in the league; they are in the bottom of the log and that could probably be our biggest enemy. For us, we need to fight complacency when we approach them.”
Triangle coach Luke Masomere is on a six-match ultimatum, starting with the Ngezi match.
For Bosso, Talent Dube and Never Rauzhi, who picked up knocks against Scottland, have to pass late fitness tests.
It has not been a good start for Kaindu and his men as Highlanders have only won once in four matches when they hammered debutantes Kwekwe United 4-0 at Emagumeni, with Brighton “MaNinja” notching a hat-trick and the other goal coming from Melikhaya Ncube in their second game of the match, having lost the first 1-0 to other newcomers MWOS.
They travelled to Chisumbanje and played a 2-2 stalemate with Green Fuel before another home draw against Scottland, giving them five points in four games.
Tomorrow, Chicken Inn, yet to win a match in four games, host Herentals at Luveve.
They lost to ZPC Kariba at Nyamhunga Stadium last week after three draws against FC Platinum, Yadah and Bikita Minerals.
