WITH the soccer season beckoning in Zimbabwe, we are back to exciting times with Premier Soccer League clubs starting their preparations. There is always a buzz around this time of the year because of the movement of players between clubs.
A majority of the clubs have indicated that they will start their preparations in earnest this week at various training fields and the same applies to Bulawayo-based Highlanders who this year are turning 99.
The once soccer giant was founded in 1926 by Albert and Rhodes, grandsons of Ndebele monarch, King Lobengula.
While the team still commands a large fan base across the country attracting huge crowds wherever it is fixtured, it has over the years been disappointing to its multitude of supporters as it has failed to win the league championship for many years.
The last time the club won the coveted league title was in 2006 when it was under the tutelage of Methembe Ndlovu and the late Ernest “Maphepha” Sibanda was chairman.
With such a scenario, this season around Bosso, as it is affectionately called by its supporters, will kick off the season in a much weaker position. This is because it has lost its pillars in the form of defence stalwart, Peter Muduhwa and last year’s league’s top goalscorer, Lynoth Chikuhwa to newly-promoted, Scottland of Harare.
Godfrey Makaruse and Marvelous Chigumira are also on their way to Scottland. It therefore needs Highlanders to get into positive action and do an introspection about technical matters and the financial sustainability of the institution going forward.
It should be a worrisome situation that the club has lost pillars. To maintain the momentum the club needs to look for replacements of equal measure while balancing the books and keeping the fans on the terraces coming in numbers.
Like their big rivals Dynamos, Highlanders have struggled to get big name signings in the past few seasons. The two giants and best supported teams in the country have relied on free agents, a majority of whom are often over the hill stars with not much to offer.
In fact, they may turn out to be a big liability as they more often push industrial action when there are delays with their payments. Although generous sponsorship deals from BetterBrands and Sakunda Holdings have gone a long way in keeping Bosso a viable entity, it seems something is missing from the leadership to drive the team forward.
The same applies to DeMbare. One wonders why the two with vociferous fans behind them, they are failing to have a big shout in the league championship.
As for Bosso, there is a need for management to think outside the box and explore other recruiting ways to get the best from lower division football like what former Bulawayo Chiefs coach Thulani Sibanda has done. He has been able to scout from lower division and is brutal enough to give his rookies a run.
There is no club in the world that can have adequate sponsorship and shut out other corporate players. Highlanders needs more funding and must end the mining project “talk show” and get into action.
The club has a huge network of rich supporters and sympathisers. What Bosso needs to do is to organise itself and realise its mammoth obligations to fans and players.
Why not organise a golf day or a special dinner in Johannesburg, Luton or Birmingham and in the Americas and lay bare club’s financial obligations amid ever existent high expectations. No sponsor or partner will walk into Highlanders. Even the traditional ones want to be approached and hear what is in store for them.
