HWANGE -  Two defeats in 27 competitive games is an impressive record by any stretch of the imagination for any football team in the world.

But for Highlanders, put into context, this record is slowly counting for nothing as they could end the season starring yet another empty trophy cabinet.

For all their hype and early signs of finally reawakening from their six-year deep slumber, two defeats have hit the Bulawayo giants below the belt at this decisive stage of the season, where trophies and titles are won and lost.

Their chief destroyer, cruelly, has been 2008 Zimbabwe champions Monomotapa.

Monoz first beat Highlanders 3-0 in a Castle Premiership match early this month to halt their 23-game unbeaten run before putting up a resilient performance at the Colliery on Sunday to dump Bosso out of the prestigious Mbada Diamonds Cup with a hearty 3-2 win.

The result was naturally so hard to take for hundreds of traveling Highlands fans, who demanded answers as the Bosso players quickly slipped back into the changing rooms.

Sunday’s defeat now means Tshilamoya’s hopes for silverware this term now lie with the league title in a race they trail defending champions Dynamos by two points, with just four games remaining before season-end.

This coming weekend, they face in-form bitter rivals Dynamos in the reverse PSL fixture at Rufaro Stadium.

Dynamos are currently in a rich vein of form, and at this rate, the Harare giants will take some beating.

The Glamour Boys reached the semi-finals of the Mbada Cup after dismissing Gunners 3-0 in Kwekwe on Sunday and apart from being on course to successful defend the country’s richest football competition, they are also well-poised to claim an enviable record of winning a league and Cup double in two straight seasons.  

So on Sunday at Rufaro, Calisto Pasuwa’s men will look to capitalise on Bosso’s poor form and low confidence levels.

Following Bosso’ lifeless performance on Sunday, coach Kelvin Kaindu could not hide his frustration.

The Zambian gaffer slammed his players for blowing a two-goal lead against Monomotapa.

 “We have blown an opportunity to bring home some prize money and help the club which is facing financial problems, this was a big opportunity for us,” Kaindu said.

Non-payment of winning bonuses has seen players resort to industrial action at Highlanders in recent weeks.