Bosso to turn down SA offers for its players

Raymond Jaravaza

HIGHLANDERS have taken a bold decision to turn down offers for its players from South Africa’s Absa Premiership league and will only consider bids from European clubs, club boss Kenneth Mhlophe has said.

The Bulawayo giants are so keen on keeping the core of its squad that will fight for honours in the 2020 Castle Lager Premier Soccer League that any “unrealistic offers” for their top players will be dismissed with the contempt they deserve.

“We are still in line with our three-year strategic plan which entailed rebuilding a young and competitive squad last year, which our former coach Madinda Ndlovu implemented very well, and this year’s target was to win a cup competition.

“Next year we are going for the league title and in all honesty, we can’t achieve that when we lose our top players to South African teams, something that has been happening in the last couple of seasons. We will only consider offers from Europe because selling our players to South African teams has not been beneficial to Highlanders and even the players themselves,” said Mhlophe.

The Bosso boss also revealed that coach Hendrik Pieter De Jongh’s contract has been further extended by a year, allaying fears that the gaffer will not be coming back to Bulawayo next year.

“We have given De Jongh a one-year performance-based contract, we are happy how he managed to turn around the team and change the mindset of the players. He is a motivator and a disciplinarian who expects the players to work hard in training and give it their all on match day,” he said.

The coach’s salary is paid by Bosso life members based overseas.

Asked if De Jongh is happy with his stay in the City of Kings since September, the Bosso chairman said: “The coach understands that there are certain things like load shedding which are beyond the control of the club. Our doors are always open for him to approach the executive with any concerns and above all he understands the club’s philosophy and what are trying to achieve”.

The majority of the players have running contracts and the team will not be losing key players as the team looks going into next season with the league title in their sights.

“The coach has identified players that he would like to have in his team next season and I can also assure our supporters that we will not be losing our key players as they have running contracts with the club,” he added.