Benjani closes in on safety target

HIGHLANDERS coach Benjani Mwaruwari stands just one victory away from achieving the target he set when he took over the Bosso hot seat, ensuring the Bulawayo giants steer well clear of the relegation battle that haunted them last season.

When Mwaruwari publicly spoke of reaching the 40-point mark, many viewed it as an unusually modest ambition for a club of Highlanders’ stature.

But the former Warriors captain was being realistic. He inherited a side lacking confidence and soon found himself battling challenges that extended far beyond the touchline.

Player salary delays, administrative turmoil, transfer frustrations and uncertainty off the field threatened to derail Highlanders’ campaign. Yet through it all, Mwaruwari refused to lower his standards or make excuses.

Now, after Sunday’s morale-boosting victory over champions Scottland FC, Bosso head into this afternoon’s Castle Lager Premier Soccer League clash against ZPC Kariba at Nyamhunga Stadium knowing that another three points would take them to the safety mark their coach identified months ago.

It is a milestone that would represent far more than just a number on the league table. It would be evidence that Highlanders have weathered one of the most turbulent seasons in recent memory and emerged with their dignity intact.

The trip to Kariba, however, presents its own challenge.

Few away assignments are as demanding as the long journey to Nyamhunga Stadium, where the heat, travelling distance and unfamiliar conditions have often tested visiting teams. Coming just three days after an emotionally charged victory over Scottland, it will also test Highlanders’ physical and mental strength.

But confidence within the Bosso camp has rarely been higher.

The victory over the defending champions was another reminder of the progress Mwaruwari has made with a squad that many had written off earlier in the campaign. Once criticised for too many draws, Highlanders have gradually become a more resilient and organised outfit capable of grinding out results.

That improvement has not gone unnoticed by the club’s faithful.

Following Sunday’s win, Zimpapers Sports Hub invited supporters to rate Mwaruwari’s first season in charge after 23 league matches. The response was overwhelmingly positive.

Most supporters awarded him between eight and 10 out of 10, with some jokingly giving him “2 000 out of 10” for guiding the team through one of the most difficult periods in the club’s history.

Many supporters pointed not only to the results on the pitch but also to the circumstances under which those results have been achieved. Financial constraints, delayed salaries, boardroom instability and off-field distractions have become recurring themes throughout the season, yet Highlanders have remained competitive.

While much of the spotlight will be on Bosso’s trip to Kariba, today’s midweek programme offers several intriguing contests across the league. Leaders MWOS will be looking to maintain their advantage at the top while FC Platinum continue their pursuit of the pace-setters. Scottland will be eager to bounce back from their defeat to Highlanders, with Ngezi Platinum Stars also aiming to keep their impressive run. At the other end of the table, the fight for survival intensifies as teams battling relegation search for priceless points with the season entering its decisive phase.

For Mwaruwari, though, the focus remains firmly on the task at hand.

He has repeatedly insisted there are no shortcuts to rebuilding a winning Highlanders side. The first objective was always to ensure Bosso would not spend another season looking anxiously over their shoulders.

That objective is now within touching distance.

This afternoon in Kariba, Highlanders have the opportunity to turn a promise made months ago into reality. One more win, and Mwaruwari will have delivered on the first part of his mission. The next challenge will be convincing the Bosso faithful that even bigger ambitions await beyond survival.