Ngezi complete double over Bosso
Highlanders 1-2 Ngezi Platinum Stars NGEZI Platinum Stars completed a double over Highlanders with a hard fought victory against the determined Bulawayo giants at Barbourfields Stadium yesterday, keeping their title hopes alive.
Goals in each half by Michael Charamba and Godknows Murwira inspired the championship chasing platinum miners to their first win over Highlanders at Barbourfields Stadium in their three Premiership years.
Charamba drew first blood in the third minute, completing a good move by his team.
Bosso drew level through Gabriel Nyoni two minutes later, with the Highlanders forward reacting quickly to a rebound after the visitors’ goalkeeper Donovan Bernard had spilled a long-range shot by Bosso midfielder Adrian Silla.
Murwira ensured that Ngezi maintains a four-point gap between them and defending champions FC Platinum who lead the pack with 58 points, when his long-range freekick took an awkward bounce before beating Highlanders keeper Ariel Sibanda. For a seasoned goalkeeper, Sibanda should have punched the ball away, but credit should go to Murwira for his technical ability of hitting a ball that troubled the Bosso goalie.
Ngezi coach Tonderai Ndiraya, whose side lost 1-0 to relegation threatened Mutare City Rovers, was clearly relieved after getting maximum points and praised his charges for the hard-fought victory.
“I want to express my gratitude for the manner the team did their business today. It was a tough match for us, especially coming from a defeat against a small team which put us under pressure coming into this game. It was a balanced affair of course I must admit that Highlanders were a little bit on top of us.
“We didn’t play the way we wanted but what is important is that we managed to pick maximum points which are keeping our hope (championship hopes) intact. Where we are now it’s important to get maximum points, how we get them is not important and I’m happy we are going back with maximum points,” said Ndiraya.
Bosso were unlucky not to even salvage a point as they played some purposeful football but found Ngezi resolute.
Highlanders controlled the game for the better part of the game with their five-man midfield of Silla, Brian Banda, Nigel Makumbe, Denzel Khumalo and Nyoni suffocating the visitors’ midfield and ensuring that Ngezi do not play their normal passing game through the centre.
Khumalo, making his first league start since his elevation from Highlanders’ development side Bosso 90, had a fine game for the home team, with his skill, dribbling ability and perfect passing mesmerizing the fans.
In the second half Ngezi should have scored at least two more goals after breaching Highlanders’ rearguard. Murwira forced Sibanda to make a fine save and push his 51st minute attempt for a corner, while Nelson Ketala missed an empty net after getting to the end of a Charamba square pass.
Bernard went airborne in the 87th minute to tip for corner a Gabriel Nyoni shot, making sure that his team travels to Ngezi with maximum points.
Highlanders coach Madinda Ndlovu described the defeat as a “big blow” for Bosso.
“It’s a big blow not only to us as a team but to the Highlanders family. We were not looking towards such kind of results. We did come into the game, had our moments. There are moments like this in football that you can’t explain. Moments that can go beyond a technical man, the coach. I think the explanation to that goal (Murwira’s goal) is to everyone that witnessed the goal and is something that is beyond the technical,” said Ndlovu. — @ZililoR ZIMBABWE’S two senior national teams representative sides, the Warriors and the Mighty Warriors troop into camp in Harare today as they prepare for their upcoming international assignments in Congo Brazzaville and South Africa respectively.
The Warriors, under the guidance of Sunday Chidzambwa who will be assisted by Rahman Gumbo and Lloyd Mutasa, are preparing for the Total Caf African Nations Cup qualifier away to Congo Brazzaville this coming weekend while their female counterparts, coached by Sithethelelwe ‘Kwinji 15’ Sibanda will be taking part in the Cosafa Women’s Championship that gets underway in Port Elizabeth, South Africa from September 12-22.
“Players are expected in camp tomorrow (today) with training starting the following day,” said Zifa communications manager Xolisani Gwesela.
By yesterday Gwesela was not certain of the number of foreign based players who had arrived in the country but there were no indications of last minute withdrawals except for the injured ones like Costa Nhamoinesu who plays in the Czech Republic for Sparta Praha and Marvelous Nakamba who is with the Belgian champions Club Brugge.
Twenty eight players were called into camp by Chidzambwa while Sibanda’s contingent will be 31.
The Mighty Warriors are in Group C alongside Namibia, Swaziland and Uganda.
“All the groups are tough and we just have to work extra hard to achieve our target, there is no easy group really,” said Sibanda.
After their opening match against Namibia on September 14, the girls will take on Swaziland in the second group game the following day before winding up their group matches against East African guest nation Uganda on September 17.
There are 12 countries that have been grouped into three pools of four that has South Africa, Botswana, Madagascar and Malawi in Group A while Zambia, Lesotho, Mozambique and another guest nation Cameroon are in Group B.
If the Mighty Warriors emerge as group winners, as is expected they will then square off against fellow winners from Group A but if they progress as best runners up their opponents will be winners of Group B.