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SIMPLY SENSATIONAL . . . Harare City forward, Silas Songani, enjoys his golden moment after his imperious performance at Rufaro yesterday destroyed Highlanders and thrust his side into pole position in the championship race

Eddie Chikamhi Sports Reporter
Harare City . . . . . .  . . . . . .  . . . (2) 4
Highlanders…. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .0
DARK horses Harare City turned on a performance for the archives, powered by a magical show from the impressive Silas Songani and took control of one of the greatest league championship races on an unforgettable afternoon at Rufaro yesterday. Bigboy Mawiwi and his men came into this big Castle Lager Premiership tie knowing that defeat at the hands of their opponents would eliminate them from the race and that would have been a bitter pill to swallow, coming just a week when they came back to Harare crying foul over the way the same team bundled them out of the Mbada Diamonds Cup semi-finals.

On an afternoon when they needed heroes, they found a lot of them, none bigger than Songani who turned on an incredible individual performance, rich in quality, he tore Bosso to shreds and left their championship hopes lying in tatters.

The pre-match hype in the Sunday newspapers had focused on Bosso being on the threshold of glory they could even smell victory given that a win yesterday, and results favouring them elsewhere, would have seen them being crowned champions for the first time since 2006.

But to have forgotten that Harare City were also in the race, as they were only just a point behind Bosso and the fact that home advantage was giving them an edge was an insult to Mawiwi and his men and when they needed to, they rose to the occasion and humiliated their opponents with a show that had to be seen to be appreciated.

They didn’t only dislodge Bosso from the top, but took full control of the race and now they only need to beat CAPS United on Super Sunday to be champions.

Songani, William Manondo and double scorer Nathan Ziwini were on target as they tipped the scales heavily in their favour.
Mawiwi, who questioned his side’s semi-final loss to Highlanders in the Mbada Diamonds Cup last week, yesterday said poetic justice had been delivered.

“We wanted to make sure that Highlanders were not going to pick a point,” said Mawiwi.
“We played very well and I was quite confident. Of late, there was no consistency. The youngsters tend to be complacent and, naturally, you can’t control that but I am very happy that we responded well.

“I am over the moon and I also thank God, because God is for everyone.”
Former Gunners and Dynamos midfielder Ziwini headed City into the lead after 20 minutes when he got to the end of a cross delivered from the left by Tongai Chiworeso.

Bosso could have levelled matters just after the half hour mark, but leftback Bruce Kangwa saw his powerful shot, hit on the run and with a lot of venom, gain height at the wrong time.

City goalkeeper Maxwell Nyamupangedengu then made a crucial save when he denied Bhekimpilo Ncube from a free-kick and then was involved heavily in a goalmouth melee that ended with Njabulo Ncube’s header hitting the upright.

Njabulo then forced his way into the box, using his strength, but then just dragged his effort wide in the 45th minute.
But just when Bosso thought they were back in the game, they were dealt a body blow when Talent Chawapiwa sent in a high ball from the left flank and Manondo responded with a low header and, just like that, the hosts were 2-0 to the good.

There was drama, too, in the stands as the Dynamos fans followed this match, and also what was happening at Barbourfields, and with news filtering through that Tawanda Muparati had brought them back into the match and the score was now 2-1 in favour of Chicken Inn, they were clearly the happier people at the break.

City could have added to their tally soon after the restart when they were awarded a penalty by referee Munyaradzi Majoni who adjudged that Bheki Ncube had fouled Martin Vengesai inside the box.

However, Bosso goalkeeper Munyaradzi Diya produced a fine save with an outstretched leg to deny Crispen Dickson from the spot.
But the combination of Songani and Ziwini in midfield always posed a big problem for Bosso as the pair appeared to have an upper hand over the twin defensive link of Hillary Madzivanyika and Mthulisi Maphosa.

Ziwini completed his brace in the 50th minute when he tapped home a return pass from Songani who had ripped through the right channel and eliminated all the defenders.

As if on cue, Vietnam soon erupted as news filtered through that Cliff Sekete had levelled terms for DeMbare in Bulawayo.
Warriors midfielder Songani was in top form despite injury worries in the run up this game. He capped a fine afternoon with a brilliant solo effort which buried Highlanders in the 62nd minute.

Songani put his skill and pace to good use when he burst into space and left Bosso skipper Innocent Mapuranga for dead on the edge of the box before unleashing a powerful drive that found the bottom corner.

“I said to the youngsters we needed to score three goals to cushion ourselves because the environment that we are living in now is very difficult with the issue of the referees.

“So we wanted to make sure that they don’t come back into the game because Highlanders are fighters and are good at that,” said Mawiwi.

Highlanders’ assistant coach Bhekithemba Ndlovu said they lost because they played with a wrong attitude.
“We wanted to win the game but we gave away two very easy goals in the first half. From then on the game changed. Maybe the mentality and the attitude was not right because we were not marking and the transition was not good from attacking and defending and we were caught on counter attacks,” said Ndlovu.

Ndlovu has been unlucky on his visits without head coach Kelvin Kaindu who is away in Europe for a Uefa B Licence coaching course.
Bosso lost significant ground in the championship race when he was forced to a 1-1 draw by relegated Motor Action two weeks ago at Rufaro when Kaindu was away on the first leg of the course.

But Ncube yesterday said his game plan failed to tick as most of his players did not rise to the occasion.
“If I was to make substitutions, I was going to make six changes but only three are allowed. We did not rise to the occasion. We did not play our usual game. Maybe the attitude was wrong. Five or six players were not in the game. We were losing the ball in crucial areas and we just did not rise to the occasion today,” said Nldovu.
Teams
Harare City  – M. Nyamupangedengu, M. Nyenye (W. Kalongonda, 79th minute), T. Chiworeso, W. Nyamutsaka, D. Kutyauripo, C. Dickson, S. Songani, N. Ziwini, W. Manondo, M. Vengesai (C. Muvuti, 75th minute), T. Chawapiwa (P. Bamusi, 70th minute)
Highlanders – M. Diya, S. Munawa, B. Kangwa, E. Mudzingwa, I. Mapuranga, M. Maphosa, H. Madzivanyika, B. Ncube (M. Ncube, 50th minute), M. Mambare, N. Ncube (O. Zibande, 59th minute), G. Nyoni (P. Moyo, 78th minute)