HIGHLANDERS coach Kelvin Kaindu is taking advantage of the three-week Castle Lager Premier Soccer League (PSL) break to scout for talent in the Zifa Southern Region Division One Soccer League ahead of the opening of the mid-season transfer window next month.
The Highlanders gaffer hit the ground running in his quest to get players to bolster his squad by watching the club’s Bosso 90 in their defeat to Plumtree-based Mainline at Luveve Stadium’s B Arena before proceeding to White City where he watched Zebra Revolution trounce Bulawayo City 4-1.
Zebra Revolution is the brainchild of former Highlanders’ striker Mkhokheli Dube and they are on a rampage after thumping another seasoned Division One campaigner Ajax Hotspurs 6-0 at the weekend.
Kaindu yesterday said there are some players he is following and it has not been easy to follow the Division One league as their games play simultaneously with that of the top flight.
“It has always been difficult to watch them (Bosso 90 and Division One) play because they also play when we are playing, usually on Sunday. We went to watch them play Mainline on Thursday and then we went to watch Zebra Revolution and BCC. Several names have been proposed and we have to try and find them. Coaching is diverse and talent can also be identified in the lower leagues. It is good that our Bosso 90 is also competing in that league,” Kaindu said.
The Zambian national has complained of lack of depth in his squad, especially upfront.
He has also highlighted difficulties in making substitutions and has to rely on permutations all the time.
Highlanders go into the break with a number of players injured and Kaindu said the break comes at an opportune time.
“It is always easy to plan when you have been told ahead of time that you are going to have a break. We had planned for it. We had players that had been missing out due to injuries. Godera [Godfrey Makaruse] and Archford Faira are injured. Gillian Nyathi is also injured and Brighton Ncube has also been playing with an injury. The break comes at a time when we want to see these players recover. We have given them a break and we will resume training next week,” Kaindu said.
Highlanders started the season with a bang, sitting at the top on the log standings but their form has since dropped and they are perched on position four, behind leaders Manica Diamonds, FC Platinum and Simba Bhora, going into the break.
Highlanders is tied on 22 points with fifth-placed Chicken Inn, and are seven points behind Manica Diamonds.
However, Bosso striker Lynoth Chikuhwa leads the scorers’ chart with seven goals.
