HIGHLANDERS’ coach Kelvin Kaindu has admitted that he is under pressure to end a winless run that is threatening to scupper his team’s title ambitions.
Bosso prepares to take on unpredictable Hwange in a Castle Lager Premier Soccer League game at Barbourfields Stadium on Sunday hoping to end a seven-match barren spell.
In the last seven games, they lost to league pacesetters FC Platinum and have played six draws, costing them crucial points and ground on the league leaders.
Kaindu yesterday admitted to the pressure but indicated that what was important was how he would manoeuvre from the bad spell.
“Pressure will always be there. You win there is pressure, if you lose there will be more pressure but it is the ability for you to get the momentum even when there is pressure. This is when you see the pedigree that you have when you are able to manage what you are doing under difficult circumstances, under pressure, you bounce back. The fans have been exciting; they have supported the team and we hope that we will turn whatever has been happening and begin a new patch,” Kaindu said.
The gaffer said for once, he was able to train with a full squad this week, welcoming left-back Archford Faira, who missed out on a considerable number of games due to injury.
Faira was in top gear when he picked up an injury.
“After a long time, it’s probably the first time that we are having a full squad in training. No player is on suspension. One player who had been out because of an injury, Faira, is also back at training and we hope that from there it will give us variety in terms of selection on who is supposed to play in the game that we are playing on Sunday.
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“Faira has been doing well, especially in the first games. He was quite instrumental, we saw him create chances and also score. We saw how much he was adding in terms of depth when we were on the offensive and when we were in transition from both defending and in attack. He has come back and it brings competition to the team,” he said.
Kaindu said Godfrey Makaruse, who has been playing as left-back, did well in Faira’s absence.
Last week’s scorer in the 1-1 draw was Marvin Sibanda, who scored in his first start for the Bulawayo giants.
The league’s top scorer Lynoth Chikuhwa and striker Brighton Ncube have been misfiring of late and that is why Highlanders have struggled to win matches.
Bosso have also not been up to scratch in midfield where Devine Mhindirira, Mckinnon and Mason Mushore, Melikhaya Ncube as well as Prince Ndlovu have struggled.
Despite the bad patch, Highlanders are fifth on the table with 23 points from 15 games, eight points behind FC Platinum, owing to a spirited start in the Premier Soccer League.
They host Hwange, who are second from the bottom in the standings with a paltry 11 points from 15 games but boosted by a win at the Colliery last week against Green Fuel.
