The highly-anticipated Bulawayo derby pitting Chicken Inn
and struggling Highlanders FC had to endure a 20-minute stoppage after scenes
of violence from Bosso supporters protesting against Clive Augusto’s goal,
which they believed the Gamecocks striker scored in an offside position.
Augusto’s 37th minute drive into goal after a long pass
from the midfield sent the Highlanders faithful into an overdrive of violent
reaction, protesting against the referee’s decision to award the home team a
second goal.
The match had to be stopped for close to 20 minutes as
police tried to control violent fans who were throwing missiles into the field
of play. Some hooligans even invaded the pitch and manhandled the match
officials.
Play then resumed after more security details were deployed
in the stadium as Chicken Inn’s Bret Amidu added more misery to an already
deflated Highlanders team.
Amidu, found his brace five minutes into stoppage time by
capitalising on a blunder by McClive Phiri, who was off-form throughout the
match. This gave Chicken Inn’s third goal, which literally sank Bosso’s hopes
for a comeback.
Amidu had opened the scoring from a long-range free kick on
the 26-minute mark, sending the Gamecocks fans into wild celebrations.
Tension is high in the Bosso camp, who have gone for seven
games without a win — managing four draws and three defeats — and have not
scored a goal at home in the current season, which has left coach Madinda
Ndlovu facing an uncertain future.
After locking himself in the dressing room with his players
after the game when he was supposed to be attending to the media for the
post-match interviews, the under-fire Bosso coach finally came out and hinted
on throwing in the towel.
“We had a very bad day in office; we started off very well
and strong. But the first goal dismantled the whole game plan and killed the
boys’ morale. We did not match Chicken Inn man to man; the reaction to the game
and attempts at goal were very poor,” Madinda said.
“I cannot tell if any change can happen in the coming games
if we are to judge from this afternoon’s match. Tempers are still high, I think
players are low and I have only encouraged them to soldier on, they are
Highlanders with me or without me — that’s the same crop that will play in the
next game next weekend, one game can change the situation whether I am there or
not,” he said. Standard
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