Online Reporter
Lovemore Dube
Pieter de Jongh, the nomadic Dutch football coach, has emerged as one of the candidates for the Highlanders job.
He was at Highlanders’ away match at Rufaro Stadium on Sunday and was seen walking close to some club officials with a supporter close to club management.
While the priority has always been beefing up the squad, the executive has failed to bring in priority targets Obrey Chirinda, Nqobizitha Masuku and Lynoth Chikuhwa.
Chirinda is staying put at Ngezi Platinum, where he is captain. Masuku is believed to be angling for a return to Zimbabwe after three seasons with Jwaneng Galaxy of Botswana, while Chikuhwa, despite Bosso interest, was shipped to Chicken Inn by Scottland FC.
Bosso have struggled in the last three months, with the strikeforce firing blanks, which has seen the club drop on the log and sit just above the drop zone, with all red flags flying.
Highlanders have lost Mbongeni Ndlovu and Divine Mhindirira to FC Platinum; Peter Muduhwa, Godfrey Makaruse, Marvelous Chigumira and Chikuhwa to Scottland.
Despite releasing such talent and experience, Highlanders have not brought in players of similar class in the last two years.
Unless Bosso sign players in the next three days, coaching changes may not yield anything for the club, as the lack of quality has been glaring since 2023.
The executive has been sitting on a US$50,000 kit for players this transfer window.
Asked if the nomadic de Jongh was on his way to Highlanders, the club’s spokesperson Nozibelo Maphosa promised to respond on Monday morning but had still not done so at noon.
Since leaving Highlanders after the 1–0 Chibuku Super Cup win in 2019, de Jongh has coached FC Platinum, the Somalia national team, Silver Stars of Malawi, and lasted two months at Jwaneng Galaxy in Botswana this year.
derick.khumalo