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Innocent Kurira, Zimpapers Sports Hub
HIGHLANDERS Football Club have opted not to extend head coach Pieter De Jongh’s contract after a turbulent spell marked by his demand for a sweeping clear-out of 13 players and conduct on and off the pitch.
His assistants, Try Ncube and Agent Sawu, are also expected to be dismissed as Bosso prepare for a complete restructuring of the technical department ahead of the arrival of a new foreign coach next week.
According to sources close to the club, De Jongh had proposed for the removal of almost half the senior squad, a move viewed by the hierarchy as destabilising and not realistic. The insistence on such a drastic overhaul, combined with persistent tension behind the scenes, triggered what insiders describe as an “irreversible breakdown” in the working relationship.
Highlanders confirmed the Dutchman’s departure in a statement.
“After constructive discussions and by mutual agreement, the club and head coach Pieter De Jongh have decided not to extend their working relationship beyond the current contract, which runs till December 31,” the club said. The official tone remained cordial, with Bosso expressing gratitude for his service.
“The club expresses its sincere appreciation to coach De Jongh for his professionalism, commitment and positive contribution during his tenure. His experience and leadership have been valuable to the team and we thank him for his hard work and dedication.”
De Jongh’s contract ends in December and he arrived with a single brief, to rescue Bosso from the drop. He did that, but the manner of the escape exposed the club’s deeper problems.
In nine matches, he won one, lost one and drew the rest. It was an unremarkable run on paper, though it was enough to avoid disaster in a season where survival became the ceiling.
He walked into a team already sliding under interim coach Try Ncube, who had managed only one win in eight games.
De Jongh’s debut delivered a crucial 1-0 win over Bikita Minerals at Gibbo Stadium, which steadied nerves and bought time. He then carried the team to the Chibuku Super Cup semi-finals before Dynamos ended their run.
Highlanders closed the league on 11th place with 39 points after a tense 1-1 draw with Chicken Inn on the final day. For a club of Bosso’s size, the relief felt brief. It was survival, not success.
Highlanders insiders say the relationship had deteriorated to a point where the club felt it had no option but to part ways.
The departures will extend beyond the head coach.
Ncube and Sawu, who served as his assistants, are set to be dismissed as part of what will be a wholesale technical overhaul.
A new coach understood to be a foreign appointment has been monitoring Highlanders’ recent matches remotely and is expected to arrive in the country next week to begin the rebuilding process.
In a farewell message to fans, De Jongh acknowledged the support he received while delivering a pointed reflection on his clashes within the club.
“Dear Bosso fans. Thank you for all your support. You are truly the best. Your passion and energy were incredible and the fans will always remain in my heart. Of course not everyone supported me as a coach. In football you always have a few people with double agendas but no problem. The champ always stays positive,” he said.
Online Reporter