Online Reporter
Innocent Kurira [email protected]
AT Barbourfields Stadium on Sunday, Benjani Mwaruwari will take charge of Highlanders against a club that once trusted him with his first coaching role — and then let him go before that journey truly began.
It is a meeting that carries history, emotion and a sense of unfinished business. Ngezi Platinum Stars were supposed to be the foundation of Mwaruwari’s coaching career in Zimbabwe.
Now, as he leads a Highlanders side that is slowly finding its feet again, he returns to face them in very different circumstances — this time with belief growing around him and the backing of a hopeful Bosso crowd.
When Mwaruwari was appointed by Ngezi Platinum in 2022 on a four-year deal, it felt like the start of something important.
A former Zimbabwe captain and one of the country’s most respected football figures was bringing his knowledge home. Many expected a long-term project, one that would allow him to grow into the role and shape a team in his own way.
But things did not last.
His time at the club lasted just 13 matches. He recorded three wins, six draws and four losses, a run that gave him a 39 percent win rate.
It was not spectacular, but it was also very early days.
Despite that, Ngezi Platinum parted ways with him after only a few months. Earlier this year, the Court of Arbitration for Sport reportedly ruled in Mwaruwari’s favour in an unfair dismissal case, ordering the Mhondoro-based club to pay him close to US$570 000.
Given that history, it would be easy to expect tension or even anger heading into Sunday’s match. But that has not been the case.
Around Highlanders this week, there has been a sense of calm. Mwaruwari has not shown signs of being distracted by the past.
Instead, his focus has been on his current team and their progress. There is also a growing feeling that Highlanders are starting to move in the right direction after a difficult start to the season.
That change in mood has been important.
Not long ago, things felt very different at Barbourfields. The supporters were frustrated. Every mistake on the pitch was met with groans, and every poor result added to the pressure. Highlanders is a club with proud traditions, and its fans expect more than just results. They want effort, courage and a team that shows character.
Slowly, they are beginning to see that again.
Recent wins have lifted the mood in the camp. Players look more confident and relaxed.
There is a sense of belief returning, both on the pitch and in the stands. Training sessions are said to be more energetic, and supporters who had doubts at the start of the season are now beginning to support Mwaruwari’s ideas.
At Highlanders, winning matters, but belief matters even more.
The rise of players like Reason Sibanda has added excitement, giving the team a cutting edge in key moments. But beyond individual performances, there is a growing sense that the team is developing a clear identity. Highlanders are playing with more intensity and bravery, and that is something the fans appreciate deeply.
For the first time this season, there is real hope at Barbourfields.
Sunday’s match, however, will test whether that hope is justified. It is more than just an emotional game for Mwaruwari. It is also a strong test of how far his team has come.
Ngezi Platinum arrive in Bulawayo unbeaten so far this season. This is despite facing their own challenges, including a transfer ban and the loss of key players. Under coach Kumbirayi Mutiwekuziwa, they have become a disciplined and well-organised side.
They are not a flashy team, but they are effective. Their success has come from hard work, structure and patience.
Mwaruwari knows exactly what his team is up against.
“It is going to be emotional obviously given I have been at Ngezi Platinum and worked with some of the players but I am now at Highlanders and all my focus is on Highlanders winning. It’s not going to be easy given the fact that Ngezi Platinum are a good side.”
They have not lost and that shows you how good they are. For us really it is about keeping our winning momentum,” said Mwaruwari.
That focus on momentum is key. In recent seasons, Highlanders have often shown promise, only to lose form again. Consistency has been a problem, and supporters have been left frustrated many times.
But this time, something feels different.
There is a sense of stability around the team.
The pressure is still there, as it always is at a club of this size, but Mwaruwari seems more comfortable in his role. The players are responding, and the fans are starting to believe again.
Sunday’s match will not define the season, but it will say a lot about where Highlanders are heading.
For Mwaruwari, it is a return to a chapter that ended too soon. For Highlanders, it is a chance to show that their progress is real.
And for the supporters, it is another step in hoping that their club is finally finding its way again.
Match Day 13 Fixtures
Saturday: FC Hunters v Agama (Heart Stadium), FC Platinum v Chicken (Mandava Stadium), Telone v Manica Diamonds (Ascot Stadium), Simba Bhora v Caps United (Wadzanayi Stadium), Bulawayo Chiefs v Hardrock (Barbourfields Stadium), Scottland v ZPC Kariba (Rufaro Stadium)
Sunday: Highlanders v Ngezi Platinum Stars (Barbourfields Stadium), Dynamos v Triangle (Rufaro Stadium) Mwos v Herentals (Ngoni Stadium)
