Highlanders lead PSL pack despite draw

WITH a third of the Castle Lager Premier Soccer League matches having been played, Highlanders, despite failing to score against Chicken Inn on Sunday, remain the most lethal team.

Bosso, who are at the top of the log with 23 points from nine matches, have scored 22 goals and conceded six, meaning that their conversion rate is above two goals per match.

The Bulawayo giants failed to find the back of the net against a resolute Chicken Inn who deserve credit for containing the former champions.

The last time Highlanders scored so many goals in their opening nine matches was in 2006, the year they last won the championship. In that season, Bosso had the likes of Obadiah Tarumbwa, Ralph Matema, Honour Gombami, Vusa Nyoni, Master Masiku and Danisa Phiri.

Then Highlanders were coached by Methembe Ndlovu.

This season Highlanders started their campaign on a high note and have become a threat to many clubs. Football enthusiasts, coaches and administrators are openly discussing Bosso's form in public areas and social sites.

Their performance has seen them attracting back their lost fans with attendance figures rising with every game.

After the Sunday draw which the Highlanders faithfuls acknowledged was a point gained given the numerous raids the team was subjected to by their rivals, Kelvin Kaindu said there was need to work on their scoring shortcomings.

"It is just unfortunate that we did not score so we have to work on our shortcomings before the next match," said Kaindu.

On Sunday, Highlanders failed to click as Chicken Inn did not allow them to play their usual passing game. Chicken Inn's coach Adam Ndlovu who had spied on Bosso for sometime got his tactics right as he always had three defenders — Guide Godard, Felix Chindungwe and Moses Jackson — keeping a close eye on Graham Ncube and Milton Ncube even when the Gamecocks were attacking.

Ndlovu knew that pushing all his men forward would leave his goalkeeper exposed in the event of a counter-attack.

"We know how Highlanders play and what we simply did was to contain them in midfield and never allowed them to play their game at the same time attacked when we got the opportunity. Had our finishing been good, we could have buried them," Ndlovu said in a post-match interview.

Both teams had fair chances but they took turns to miss.

Comments