IT’S almost unbelievable that Bulawayo giants Highlanders have pulled themselves back into contention for the Castle Lager Premier Soccer League title following an unprecedented mid-season slump which saw them lose four of the first five matches in the second half of the current season.
BY FORTUNE MBELE
But a run of four wins out of four, the latest being a hard-fought 1-0 midweek victory over Harare City, has seen Bosso rise from the ashes to throw themselves into the title race mix with six matches to go.
Six points now separate Highlanders and FC Platinum and this afternoon the Bulawayo outfit, with no margin for error, host Ngezi Platinum Stars at Barbourfields Stadium as they seek to keep the pressure on the pacesetters. In the reverse fixture Bosso pummeled the visitors 4-1 in Mhondoro back in May.
Coach Erol Akbay, who had to bear the brunt of losing key player Bruce Kangwa and strike partner Knox Mutizwa during the midseason transfer window, believes a change in strategy is finally paying dividend at a crucial stage of the season.
Kangwa left for Tanzania, while Mutizwa went to South Africa and their absence immediately began to tell for Highlanders.
“We had to change our tactics after Bruce and Knox left and it took time for the boys to adjust. If you see, in the game that we are playing now not only strikers score and the midfielders can score also and that game plan is working. If we are to get something this year, we have to do it ourselves. Every game for us now is a Cup final,” Akbay said.
Defender Erick Mudzingwa and Allen Gahadzikwa scored in the 2-0 win over How Mine at BF in August, with veteran striker Ralph Matema and Nhlanhla Ndlovu on target in the 2-1 win against Border Striker at Dulibadzimu.
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Highlanders returned to BF to beat Dynamos 2-1 with goals from defender Tendai Ndlovu and Matema, with Gahadzikwa getting the solitary win against Harare City on Thursday.
Ngezi Platinum, sitting on position seven on the log-table with 33 points, will not be handing Highlanders the three points on a silver platter.
Coach Tonderai Ndiraya, who came after the 1-4 Baobab drubbing, said they will try to adjust to the pressure of playing before the menacing crowd at Barbourfields Stadium.
“Although I was not in charge in May, we still have that game in mind when we lost 4-1 to Highlanders. I know that game will affect our boys one way or the other, but we have got to move on. It is a new game altogether. We are playing away from home, banking on our fine form. Our main priority at the start was to survive relegation and we are achieving that and we have to revise our targets. A top eight finish is realistic, but we have a tight schedule ahead of us,” Ndiraya said.
Meanwhile, bottom club Border Strikers — who earned their first point under new coach Luke Masomere with a goalless draw against leader FC Platinum mid-week — make the long trip to the Colliery to play Hwange this afternoon.
In Mutare, Mutare City Rovers entertain ZPC Kariba, while in the Lowveld Triangle host outgoing champions Chicken Inn at Gibbo.
