Mafu upbeat despite yet another Bosso draw

By Sakheleni Nxumalo

BCC Golden Stars      0

Highlanders                0

Highlanders head coach Bongani Mafu

Highlanders may have failed to find the target against newly promoted first division outfit BCC Golden Stars at Barbourfields on Sunday but their head coach Bongani Mafu believes he now has a team that can challenge for honours in the forthcoming Castle Premiership season.

Speaking to journalists after the goalless stalemate, Mafu boldly predicted that his charges will soon be posting big wins against their opposition.

“Basically I think one of these days someone is going to get a proper smacking because we now have a team.

“At the beginning I was worried about the quality and availability of players but now I can assure you we have a team at Highlanders,” Mafu said.

Bongani Mafu

The former Zimbabwe Saints coach said the uncertainty over who will make the Bosso 2015 squad was to blame for the failure by his team to steamroll past their lower division opponents.

“I think the players need the liberation of knowing they are Highlanders players because people are playing these games with worry and I think when you have got your 30 boys and they know that they are here then they are freer.

“At halftime I had to tell the boys to sit or stand on the ball if they wanted because the game was dead and lacked the excitement that will bring the fans to watch our games,” Mafu said.

 Highlanders were easy on the eye in the first half with on - loan Bantu Rovers players Nqobizitha Masuku and Obadiah Tarumbwa impressive in the middle of the park and upfront respectively.

Tarumbwa could turn out to be quite an asset for Tshilamoya this season as he immediately struck a good understanding with teenage strike partner Thomas Chideu and chances are high that the youngster will now flourish playing alongside an experienced striker.

At the back another on – loan Bantu Rovers player Teenage Hadebe combined well with Douglas Sibanda as they rekindled their Young Warriors central defense partnership.

Highlanders defender Douglas Sibanda 

And as Highlanders continued to boss the midfield, the Philani Ncube led BCC technical team hauled off the nomadic Ntokozo Tshuma and replaced him with former Magwegwe Pirates player Trynos Ndlovu after just 23 minutes of play.

But despite their clear dominance, Highlanders failed to create clear cut chances with their only notable attempts at breaking the deadlock coming on the stroke of halftime when Chideu and Knox Mtizwa had efforts that were kept out by BCC keeper Ndodana Sibanda.

The Highlanders technical team made a raft of changes at the beginning of the second half bringing on Felix Chindungwe for Hadebe, Gabriel Nyoni for Tarumbwa while Rahman Kutsanzira replaced Mtizwa and Tendai Ngulube came in for Masuku.

And in reply BCC made a double substitution and brought in former Technosphere linkman Bekithemba Ngwenya for Warren Dube with former How Mine and Shabanie Mine left-back Terrence Majo coming in for Khumbulani Dube.

It was the promising Chideu though who continued to threaten with a couple of attempts in the second half with the most promising coming after 53 minutes when his effort was tipped over for a corner kick by BBC keeper Sibanda.

Highlanders striker Thomas Chideu shields the ball from BCC defender Zibusiso Sibanda while BCC linkman Innocent Kutsanzira and goalkeeper Ndodana Sibanda closely monitor the action

The breakthrough failed to materialise for the former DC Academy player though and he was latter replaced by Ozias Zibande.

Highlanders nearly found the opener from an unlikely source though on 77 minutes but Douglas Sibanda’s spectacular overhead kick from an Edmore Muzanenhamo corner was tipped over for another corner kick by BCC keeper Sibanda.

And after the match BCC coach Ncube admitted that their keeper Sibanda had been their saviour after coming up with some crucial saves.

“In terms of fitness Highlanders were better than us as we struggled to transition from defence to attack and we have to thank our keeper for the saves that he made as he kept us in the game,” Ncube said.

Highlanders have played a number of practice matches since beginning their pre-season training and lost the first match to first division side Black Boots before being held to draws by Chapungu United, FC Platinum and the latest by BCC Golden Stars.

In the curtain raiser to the main match on Sunday the Bulawayo City Council owned Stars beat the Highlanders reserve side 3-1.

Teams:

BCC Golden Stars

Ndodana Sibanda, Tawanda Chikore, Khumbulani Dube (Terrence Majo 51), Zibusiso Sibanda, Brighton Dube, Xolisani Moyo, Innocent Kutsanzira (Mlamuli Phakathi 66), Warren Dube (Bekithemba Ngwenya 51), Ntokozo Tshuma (Trynos Ndlovu 23), Eddy Nkulungo (Trevor Ndlovu 66), Mkhululi Moyo (Qinani Sibanda 66).

Highlanders

Ariel Sibanda, Lewis Ncube, Julius Daudi, Douglas Sibanda, Teenage Hadebe (Felix Chindungwe 46), Nqobizitha Masuku (Tendai Ngulube 46), Welcome Ndiweni (Edmore Muzanenhamo 72), Knox Mtizwa (Rahman Kutsanzira 46), Bruce Kangwa, Thomas Chideu (Ozias Zibande 72), Obadiah Tarumbwa (Gabriel Nyoni 46).