Herbert Maruwa, the TelOne coach, was also happy with the point gained away from home.
Highlanders ………………………0
Telone………………………………0
Goalkeeper Chris Mverechena was the hero of the day as he helped TelOne steal a point against home side Highlanders in a Castle Lager Premier Soccer League match at Barbourfields Stadium in Bulawayo on Sunday.
The former Caps United and Highlanders goalkeeper produced top-drawer saves in the second half to deny Bosso victory.
The first half was a big yawn with both teams struggling for fluency. TelOne appeared content with keeping a clean sheet and relied on sporadic counter attacks.
Bosso started with a new look forward line as Never Rauzhi and Nqobile Ndlovu were both handed their full debuts as coach Kelvin Kaindu rang the changes in search of goals.
However, the changes were ineffective throughout the half.
Both coaches concurred that the goalkeeper had a brilliant afternoon.
Herbert Maruwa, the TelOne coach, was also happy with the point gained away from home.
“It was a good show from the boys. They managed the game very well, especially the goalkeeper and our game plan worked. We knew they would score around 15 to 30 minutes. So we managed to contain them and we wanted to hit them on the break. We could have got one goal but I am happy with the point,” said Maruwa.
However, Kaindu was not happy with how they started the game and felt they should have won the game in the second half of the game.
“These are points that we regret dropping. We have seen a trend where opponents go and celebrate after the game. This is a game which could have given us an advantage if we had collected maximum points,” said Kaindu.
“(I am) a bit concerned with the way we started in the first half. I think that is what made our game difficult… We looked slightly better when we came back in the second half. We created a number of chances that we thought we could have scored but it’s just unfortunate the goalkeeper was quite good,” he continued.
Chances were few and far in between in the first half.
The only real chance for Bosso came after 19 minutes, when they were awarded a free kick after a foul on McKinnon Mushore a few metres outside the box. Andrew Mbeba blasted his effort against the wall.
It was TelOne who should have gone to the break leading but Blessing Sahondo missed a sitter from a long ball by Mverechena. The ball bisected the Bosso defence and Sahondo made a clever run from the blind side. However, he fluffed his lines, shooting weakly at goal and Reward Muza comfortably gathered.
In the second half it was all Highlanders but they missed a flurry of opportunities.
Mushore made an attempt from outside the box but Mverechena was equal to the task.
Rauzhi should have thrust Bosso into the lead in the 54th minute but he blazed his effort over the bar after coming face to face with Mverechena.
Ndlovu then had two headers that drew the best out of Mverechena in the 60th and 62nd minute.
Ndlovu was back again to haunt TelOne when he turned inside the box and placed his effort to the far post but once again Mverechena stretched himself to the limit to keep the effort.
Right at the death, Godfrey Makaruse shot at goal in the 90th minute and it seemed as if Mverechena had misjudged the effort but he made an unorthodox save with his shoulder.
Highlanders FC
R Muza, M Chigumira, L Chikuhwa (B Ncube 63), M Mushore, M Sibanda (H Mhlanga 63), G Makaruse, A Mbeba (M Khoza 63), P Muduhwa, N Ndlovu, N Rauzhi, M Ncube (B Ndlovu 86)
TelOne FC
C Mverechena, T Nyabinde, B Sahondo (F Muza 56), E Mafirenyika, A Chapanduka, L Hofisi, A Dzumbunu (H Chikosa 86), X Moyo, T Sibanda (M Kwinjo 79), W Navaya (A Nyandoro 79), T Jaravani (F Bushiri 79)-newsday
