Bosso’s great foursome -Newsday Zimbabwe

Chikuhwa took his season’s total to 15 goals, making him the hot favorite for the 2024 Golden Boot Award.

HIGHLANDERS. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .(2)

GREEN FUEL. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .0

A LYNOTH Chikuhwa hat-trick secured victory for excited Highlanders as they compounded Green Fuel’s relegation problems in a thrilling Castle Lager Premier Soccer League match played in front of a paltry crowd at Barboufields Stadium yesterday afternoon.

Chikuhwa took his season’s total to 15 goals, making him the hot favorite for the 2024 Golden Boot Award. However, he will have to thank player of the match Brighton Ncube who selflessly provided all the assists for his goals.

Amid calls for Bosso fans to boycott the encounter, it was a different story as the crowd turnout was better than the previous home match against ZPC Kariba.

The match started with a moment of silence for the late CEO of Bosso, Sihlangu Dlodlo, who was buried at Lady Stanley Cemetery on Saturday after passing away last week.

Bosso coach Kelvin Kaindu dedicated the victory to Dlodlo. “We said it before the game: the only way we can dedicate the game to him is to get our biggest win and that’s exactly what we did. We could have scored more goals, but if we score four that’s a plus. We have honored and dedicated this competition to our CEO,” said Kaindu.

Green Fuel assistant coach Taurai Mangwiro blamed the poor start for his boys’ defeat.

“A very difficult match for us. We took a beating and our start wasn’t the best. When we thought we were getting back into the game, they hit us, especially with the second goal. We noticed that we had only made one box entry in the first 15 minutes and they had scored after 10 minutes. After we regrouped, we thought we were at the top, what we needed was to hang on there,” Mangwiro said.

In the 10th minute, goalkeeper Raphael Pitisi set up Bosso’s opener with a long ball that Ncube unlocked. The burly forward easily shrugged off his marker and set up a sitter for Chikuhwa, who scored his thirteenth goal of the season from twelve yards out.

Bosso continued to pressure Green Fuel and sensed victory. In the 22nd minute, Chikuhwa almost doubled the lead, but his effort was blocked inside the penalty area after impressive work on the right flank from Never Rauzhi. Rauzhi’s cut was well expected by Ncube, who pushed him into Chikuhwa’s path.

Green Fuel’s first shot on target came after 25 minutes when Garikai Dematsika fired into the penalty area from Donald Ngoma’s pass. However, his effort lost its sting due to a deflection and ended up safely in the arms of Pitisi.

After 32 minutes, Gillian Nyathi was put ahead by Chikuhwa, but his shot on the edge of the penalty area was not precise.

In the 40th minute, Mason Mushore was shown a yellow card for a foul on Nelson Mwanasanga on the edge of the penalty area.

Chikuhwa scored his second goal of the day in the 42nd minute with a curling effort after running onto a pass from Ncube. His excellent first touch took him through, facing goalkeeper Tendai Chirara and he curled a beautiful shot into the bottom corner.

On the stroke of half-time, Green Fuel’s penalty call was waved away by referee Israel Nebera after a fight between livewire Mwanasanga and Arthur Ndlovu led to the former going down in the penalty area.

Bosso had the upper hand until the break.

Green Fuel came back from the break and played with purpose. In the 47th minute, a cross from Brian Chikwenya was mistimed by goalkeeper Pitisi and he went out for a corner that the Lowveld side wasted.

Bosso should have scored the third goal in the 64th minute after a wonderful build-up involving Godfrey Makaruse and Nigel Banda, culminating in the youngster setting up a sitter for Ncube, who was however nonchalant in firing a curling effort that was pushed out by Chirara.

Ncube played the game of his life as his maze-like runs kept the Green Fuel defenders on their toes. In the 72nd minute he again fed Chikuhwa, who almost beat Chirara at the near post, but the effort hit the underside of the crossbar.

The action went from one end to the other and substitute Bruno Mtigo almost brought Green Fuel back into the match but a last-ditch tackle from Talent Dube prevented the striker from shooting with Pitisi exposed in the 74th minute.

Ncube broke free in the 76th minute and did everything right, only for Chirara to acrobatically direct his effort intended for the far corner away from goal.

Substitute Marvin Sibanda scored Bosso’s third in the 83rd minute with a header from Chigumira’s stunning free-kick. This was after Dube was needlessly fouled by another substitute Chris Ngwende.

Chikuhwa then completed his hat-trick deep into referee’s optional time with a tap-in after another tee-off from Ncube. He had the easiest task of reducing it to 10 men with Green Fuel, with skipper Honest Moyo receiving off-field treatment.

Bosso climbed to fourth place in the standings with 47 points, while Green Fuel remained in the relegation zone with 36 points.

Teams:

Highlanders: R Pitisi, T Dube, L Chikuhwa, G Makaruse (M Chigumira 82), A Mbeba, M Mushore (M Ncube 57), P Muduhwa, G Nyathi (M Sibanda 57), A Ndlovu, N Rauzhi (N Banda 46), B Ncube

Green fuel: T Chirara, B Chikwenya (J Ngulube 67), H Moyo, R Chinemo, D Nhongo, A Silla, C Duhwa (Ngwende 67), D Ngoma (B Mtigo 71), G Dematsika, N Takawira (M Gasela 46), N Mwanasanga

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