Youngsters impress in Bosso win

The decision to not go into the market for seasoned players may turn out to be a masterstroke by Highlanders Football Club after graduates from their development side stole the show during the Bulawayo Football Festival on Sunday.

Prince Dube

Centre striker Prince Dube (19) scored the solitary goal that earned Highlanders victory over Bulawayo City in the final of the four - team festival while 21 – year old Brian Banda was on target in the semi – final victory over How Mine.

Brian Banda

Banda’s strike however, was cancelled out by How Mine new signing Toto Banda and the match had to be decided by a penalty shoot-out that Highlanders won 4 – 2.

Adrian Silla

20 – year old Adrian Silla, who joined the Bosso development side mid season last year and helped the team win promotion into the Southern Region Soccer League after coming second in the second division last year, put up some eye catching performances after coming on as a substitute in both games and capped a fine afternoon by providing the assist for Dube’s winner in the final.

Dube, a product of journalist Lee Mangena’s Street Set Football Club, was the top goal scorer in the Bulawayo Province Division 2 league last season with 20 goals to his credit.

 Amini – Soma Phiri, who was in charge of Highlanders while Dutchman Erol Akbay watched from the stands, was full of praise for the youngsters.

Erol Akbay,right, with from left Marko Dube, Cosmas Zulu and Melusi Sibanda

“Like the chairman indicated, we cannot afford to buy players so we are going to build the team from the youngsters that we have. The boys are showing a lot of positives especially this young boy Prince Dube, he has something special and I think that he will give us a lot if he does not get injured,” Soma - Phiri said.

On their way to the final Bulawayo City beat Tsholotsho 3-1 after a penalty shoot-out.

The match had ended in a goalless stalemate during regulation time.

Bulawayo City coach Philani Ncube said he did not read much into the results of the matches as the goal was to get his team ready for the season.

Philani Ncube and Amini Soma - Phiri

“It’s not about the results as we are working on the four fundamentals, the technique, the tactics, the physiology and the psychology. 


We are almost done with the physical part and we are now working on incorporating the technic/tactic and then later on we will move on to the psychological part,” Ncube said.

Themba Sibanda, Kelvin Kaindu and Bekithemba Ndlovu

New How Mine coach Kelvin Kaindu said his team is still far from being in good physical condition and only took part in the festival to support Highlanders who are turning 90 years old this year.

“We had to adjust our programme considering when the season is starting (April) because we realised that if we do the six – week periodisation cycle, we would have been ahead before the season starts so we have not done much of the practical side but we have been doing the theory,” Kaindu said.

Tsholotsho head coach Lizwe Sweswe said taking part in the Bulawayo Football Festival had helped him judge the mental strength of some of the youngsters who are trying their luck at his side.

Xolani, Lizwe Sweswe and Mkhando

“These games have been very helpful because while you can work on the tactical and technical aspects of the game with these players, it is only during such matches that one can gauge their mental aptitude,” Sweswe said.

Giacomo Ratto

Iziqholo zeZhwane featured Italian keeper Giacomo Ratto in their penalty shoot-out loss to Bulawayo City.