Vusumuzi Dube
Ricky Zililo, Senior Sports Reporter
HIGHLANDERS Football Club have a rich history of churning out talent from their developmental sides, with their junior structures adored by many.
Bosso were known to have a clear policy of player recruitment and promotion of juniors into the senior team. Highlanders’ members have been vocal on the club’s recruitment, arguing that only exceptional players should be bought from other clubs but the core should be from their junior structures.
In their 2-1 victory against FC Platinum, Highlanders had five players who were promoted from their junior ranks since 2017 when the club deliberately decided to revive its development policy.
Vice-captain Mbongeni Ndlovu, right back Andrew Mbeba, left back Archiford Faira, defensive midfielder Darlingon Mukuli and McKinnon Mushore are the former Bosso90 products that started against FC Platinum.
When Bosso revived the development policy, then club chief executive officer Nhlanhla Dube spoke about the “Highlanders way” of doing things, adding that some deviation along the way had contributed to the senior team’s struggles on the field of play.
“The Highlanders way has always been there, but because it is not documented, it has been lost, as coaches come up with their own formula which at times is at odds with what has been traditionally practiced at the club. We feel it is critical that it be documented as a policy framework, so that every coach understands how we recruit and train from entry level until players get to the senior team. We are very serious and committed in redefining what we call the Highlanders way. We all believe there is a Highlanders way, but we might have deviated from it. We have to go back to it for us to redefine the path back to success,” Dube was quoted.
Promotion of juniors is the Highlanders way. Unlike the rest of the players whose history with Highlanders’ juniors is well documented, Mushore just played half a season with Bosso-90 before his elevation to the first team. The left winger joined Highlanders’ development side from Harare. Mushore, who scored Highlanders’ goal when they beat Black Rhinos 1-0 on Match Day Two has so far been brilliant for Bosso.
The five players were also starters for Highlanders in Good Friday’s derby that ended 0-0 against Chicken Inn. Melusi Sibanda, the Bosso90 gaffer is proud of the work that he has been doing with Danny Ngwenya and Siza Khoza in Highlanders’ juniors.
“It’s all about team work and seeing youngsters we’ve coached at Bosso90 donning the senior team jersey and fitting in well, gives us the will and zeal to keep pushing,” Sibanda said.
Other Bosso90 products that have asserted themselves in the topflight include Chicken Inn’s Dominic Jaricha and Vincent Moyo, Brighton Makopa who has scored two goals for Hwange.
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