When Bosso flattered to deceive
Langton Nyakwenda
IT is almost 50 days since Highlanders’ supporters last celebrated a Castle Lager Premier Soccer League win.
Bosso have one win in their last 10 matches, with their last victory coming against Yadah at Barbourfields Stadium on September 17.
Washington Navaya and Mbongeni Ndlovu were on target that day, but since then, the Bulawayo giants have drawn four times and lost twice.
Highlanders are now nine points behind log leaders and championship favourites Ngezi Platinum Stars going into the last five matches of the 2023 marathon.
Yet Bosso led Ngezi by two points after Match Day 20, having also beaten the platinum miners 1-0 at Baobab Stadium on Match Day 7. It was a rare win in Mhondoro for the Bulawayo giants.
If Ngezi win their next three games, starting with today’s tough assignment away at Hwange, then Highlanders will be out of contention for the championship.
So poor have been Highlanders that their clash against CAPS United at Barbourfields today has failed to attract the hype this Battle of Cities fixture usually enjoys.
Pressure is mounting on Bosso’s coach Brito, who is desperate to arrest a slide that has left Highlanders among the worst-performing teams in the league in the last five weeks. Bosso have picked up four points out of a possible 15 in the last five matches, which translates to a 27 percent success rate. Interestingly, Brito no longer wants to talk about the championship race, although he is confident he can still turn things around in the remaining matches.
“We have a chance to play for a win in our next match (against CAPS United), and that is our focus,”Brito told The Sunday Mail Sport.
“After that, we will see what happens.” After a blistering start and a good run for most of the season, Highlanders faltered along the way and have now become an epitome of sides that flatter to deceive.
Bosso were eight points clear of rivals Dynamos after Match Day 20 but they are now a point behind DeMbare.
Brito’s men were six points ahead of Manica Diamonds after 20 rounds of action, but they are now two points behind the Gem Boys, who moved into second position after edging Dynamos 1-0 at Gibbo Stadium in a midweek fixture.
Although they still have a mathematical chance of winning the league championship, it would be a huge miracle should Bosso manage to clinch their first league title since 2006 this year.
They might need to win their remaining five matches and hope that Ngezi fail to get more than four points in their last matches.
After facing CAPS United today, Highlanders will play Triangle (away), Herentals (home), Manica Diamonds (away) and Ngezi (home).
But before thinking about the home stretch, Highlanders players must focus on the game against CAPS United this afternoon.
It is a game they need to win so as to appease their restless fans, given that it was Makepekepe who knocked them out of this year’s Chibuku Super Cup at the quarter-final stage.
“The CAPS United match is not an easy game. We know they are a tough opponent, especially now that we are going through a bad patch,” Brito said.
However, CAPS United usually struggle in league encounters against Bosso at Barbourfields.
Makepekepe’s last league win at Emagumeni was on May 3, 2015.
But Lloyd Chitembwe’s team have been a transformed lot in the last five league matches.
CAPS United had gone for four games unbeaten in the league before last Sunday’s 2-0 loss to Dynamos in the Chibuku Super Cup semi-final.
But Brito says he is being driven more by the desire to restore smiles back on the faces of Highlanders fans.
“We are ready for the contest. We are approaching the match with motivation to turn things around and collect three points. “We want to win it for our supporters, who have gone for some time without celebrating a win.”
CAPS United are also fighting for their own cause. Chitembwe and his troops, who have 37 points from 29 games, are still not safe from relegation.
They are just six points ahead of Yadah, who occupy 16th position and host ZPC Kariba at Baobab this afternoon.
Fixtures:
Dynamos v Black Rhinos (National Sports Stadium), Hwange v Ngezi Platinum Stars (Colliery), Highlanders v CAPS United (Barbourfields), Yadah v ZPC Kariba (Baobab) ■