Innocent Kurira, [email protected]
A CENTURY of history, a season that has tested their patience and a cup campaign that could yet deliver a defining moment. For Highlanders, the road to the end of 2026 is about more than simply collecting points it is about giving their centenary celebrations a fitting footballing climax.
Before they can dream of silverware, however, Bosso must deal with an immediate challenge in Harare, where they face an in-form FC Hunters at Rufaro Stadium on Sunday in a Castle Lager Premier Soccer League encounter.
Coach Benjani Mwaruwari wants his players to approach the assignment with the urgency it demands. Highlanders have gone three matches without a win, while Hunters arrive having won their last three games, setting the stage for a contest in which confidence could prove decisive.
For Bosso, the mission is straightforward, end the frustrating run, return to winning ways and carry renewed belief into their Chibuku Super Cup semi-final against CAPS United.
“We prepare to win every game. We are facing a tricky Hunters side who have been doing well. We need to win this upcoming game because Hunters have won their last three games and we have not won our last three games, so we want to go there and hand them defeat, which will boost our confidence going into the semi-final,” said Mwaruwari.
“We want to finish as high as possible in the league. Winning this game will be a huge mental boost for our boys going into the semi-final clash against CAPS United.”
It is a message that captures Highlanders’ immediate predicament. They have remained competitive for much of the campaign but have struggled to turn draws into victories, with their 16 stalemates the highest in the division.
Sitting eighth on 43 points from 31 matches, Bosso still have an opportunity to improve their league position. Yet the gap separating them from the chasing pack is narrow, with Chicken Inn ninth on 42 points and having played a game fewer.
There is little ro
om for complacency, particularly against a Hunters side that has found a winning formula at a crucial stage of the season.
Hunters occupy 12th position with 37 points, six behind Highlanders. Their eight wins, 13 draws and 10 defeats tell the story of a campaign in which consistency has been difficult to maintain, but their recent three-match winning streak suggests they are finishing with renewed purpose.
They have scored 27 goals and conceded 36, while Highlanders have found the net 26 times and conceded 22. The figures point to a Bosso side with the stronger defensive record, although Sunday will require more than statistical superiority.
For Mwaruwari, the challenge is to turn that solidity into the victories that have proved elusive. Another draw would do little to satisfy a team eager to build momentum before facing CAPS United in a match with the potential to reshape the narrative of their season.
The Chibuku Super Cup has become particularly important for Highlanders and their supporters. With the league title beyond their reach, the knockout competition offers a realistic opportunity to finish the campaign with a major achievement during the club’s landmark year.
The Premier Soccer League has confirmed that Highlanders will meet CAPS United at Rufaro Stadium on November 1. Hardrock and FC Hunters will contest the other semi-final at Chahwanda Stadium in Kwekwe on October 31, with the same venue set to host the final.
For Bosso, the possibility of lifting the trophy would add substance to a centenary season built around celebrating the club’s history, identity and place in Zimbabwean football.
But the route to that moment begins with Hunters.
Sunday’s match offers Highlanders an opportunity to rediscover their winning touch, improve their league standing and approach the semi-final with the confidence required for a demanding cup tie.
Away from the pitch, Mwaruwari has also sought to provide clarity about his own future, insisting that he remains committed to Highlanders and has two years left on his contract.
His immediate responsibility, however, is to ensure that the team finishes the season strongly.
A century deserves celebration, but football clubs are ultimately judged by what they achieve on the pitch. For Highlanders, the closing weeks of the campaign offer a chance to make their milestone year memorable for more than its history.
First, they must overcome Hunters.
Then comes CAPS United, with a place in the Chibuku Super Cup final at stake.
The centenary celebrations are already part of Bosso’s story.
Mwaruwari and his players now have an opportunity to add the results that could make this season one to remember.
