Bulawayo Chiefs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0
Highlanders . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0
Highlanders FC barren run continue in the Castle Lager Premier Soccer League after they were held to an unspiring draw by Bulawayo Chiefs yesterday.
Bosso have only won two matches in the second half of the season following a good run in the first.
The only beat Black Rhinos and Yadah Stars in their last 11 matches. Their championship hopes continue to fade with five matches left.
Jose Baltemar Brito painted a gloomy picture of what remains of the season.
"So this game is a little bit of the summary of our season. We played well in terms of ball possession, building up on the last third of the field. We created chances even though not that many, but we created chances to win the game.
It was hard for me to be on national duty for almost 15 days and coming back here I did only one session. During this time, I gave our assistants the freedom to play in another system which they decided to be a 3-5-2, but the summary is the same, with plan A it's the same with Plan B or with Plan C. The team creates, but on the last third we are not dangerous. So it was hard for me going to the bench with one session. It was not fair on my part, but I did because no one wants to take the responsibility . So I took that responsibility because I don't put myself under pressure in moments of pressure. Even if we try to do our best these last six or eight matches have shown that the problem is not on planning because Plan A, B, C , D have all failed. We can change the system, the players but the results are still the same," Brito said.
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Bosso missed a glut of opportunities which appeared easier to score than miss in both halves of the tension-filled encounter.
In the 43rd minute, substitute Gillian Nyathi fired a thunderbolt which Khulekani Dube spilled to an on rushing Washington Navaya, but the striker skied his effort with the goal yawning.
Mbongeni Ndlovu then missed the best chance of the day towards the stroke of full-time when a Nyathi cross was nodded by Navaya to the path of Ndlovu, but the defender shot wide with Dube badly exposed.
The encounter saw chances coming few and far in between. Bulawayo Chiefs were physical in the game and five of their players and their coach Johannes Nhumwa all earned yellow cards.
Nhumwa said it was not part of their plan to play a physical game in the derby. “As a coach, I cannot tell my players to get five, 10 yellow cards. Those are the referee decisions. Football should be equal because the way they treat Chiefs, Highlanders and Dynamos is different. If football is played that way it becomes a problem. The way they shared the yellow cards is okay to them because there is something wrong that we did which they saw," said Nhumwa.
Obriel Chirinda was lucky to have finished the game as his crude tackle ended Brighton Manhire's afternoon in the 13th minute, but he escaped without a caution.
In form Billy Veremu could have won it for Chiefs and ease their relegation worries, but his effort crushed the underside of the crossbar after a brilliant turn on the near side. His curling effort left Ariel Sibanda rooted in the same spot before bouncing on the line and trickling back into the field of play.
Chirinda engineered another for Chiefs in the 70th minute when his powerful shot bounced in front of goalkeeper Ariel Sibanda and caused problems for him, he spilled the effort to Ayanda Ncube who blazed over the bar.
Bulawayo Chiefs
K Dube, B Nyahunzvi, M Msebe, O Chirinda, N Ncube (A Ncube 46), P Shoko (K Sibanda 81), D Phiri (N Gama 81), M Gasela, B Veremu (F Matare 76), F Moyo, M Hativagone.
Highlanders
A Sibanda, M Chigumira, R Kutsanzira, R Lunga (L Chikuhwa 80), M Mushore, B Manhire (G Nyathi 13), A Mbeba, E Farasi (A Faira 46'), M Ndlovu, W Navaya, M Ncube
