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THERE were two notable contrasting occurrences in the City of Kings last year. The first was the African Union Sports Council Region Five Under-20 Games which Bulawayo successfully hosted. The second was, prior to the Games, the happenings at Highlanders, the hue and cry over the city’s oldest institution, Highlanders Football Club.
Once the pride and joy of Bulawayo, Highlanders epitomised something like the anguish and sorrow of many, in a forgettable 2014 season, in which they finished in an uncharacteristic 5th position on the 16-team log standings.
Yes, the writing was always there on the wall, when through the instigation of a restless section of the team, once christened ithimu yezwelonke, the Highlanders executive showed Zambian mentor Kelvin Kaindu the door.
The resultant replacement in the form of Mark Mathe did not inspire any confidence but further dampened any hopes that Highlanders had of clinching the Premier Soccer League championship, a feat last accomplished eight years ago.
As they say the rest is history!
It is refreshing to note that after last season’s debacle, the Highlanders executive have moved in quickly and confirmed “little known’’ Bongani Mafu, as Highlanders’ substantive coach for the next season. Mafu, as we mentioned elsewhere in this newspaper, assumes power tomorrow ahead of the 2015 footballing season.
Before Mafu came into the fray there was speculation, on who will take over arguably one of the hottest coaching positions in the land, there was, equally in good measure, pressure on the responsible Highlanders authorities to speed up the appointment of a substantive coach.
Which they did, signalling a potentially “good year’’ at Bosso.
Someone, once said: “The objective of a New Year is not that we should have a new year. It is that we should have a new soul and a new nose; new feet, a new backbone, new ears, and new eyes. Unless a particular man-made New Year’s resolutions, he would make no resolutions. Unless a man starts afresh about things, he will certainly do nothing effective.”
Taking over a position of responsibility at a big institution like Highlanders will always come with its challenges. Those who have been there before will say coaching Bosso is always a tall order, while the eager unknowns such as Mafu may testify that it is a risk worth taking.
Mafu takes over a team that has not only been low on morale, but a side low on hope and confidence, judging by the results of the last quarter of the 2014 season.
But, conversely the challenge provides Mafu with an opportunity to shine and perhaps show all and sundry that he is cut from a different cloth.
Whether we like it or not, Mafu is now at the helm, and ready to use the opportunity to prove that his impressive resume is not only on paper.
Many expect Mafu to come with a competitive side from the ashes of last season’s failure. Mafu will also be expected to come with a relatively young side from last season’s “tired” lot.
Mafu SHOULD bring back confidence to the players and make them believe in themselves and that they have got what it takes to be champions.
But the challenge is equally on the Highlanders’ executives to provide a conducive environment for Mafu and his assistants to deliver. Already the multitudes among the hard-to-please Highlanders base are envisaging those scenes of joy in Bulawayo, just like what the Region Five Games brought to the City of Kings and Queens.
With the Bosso elections pending and there being a real possibility the incumbent chairman, Peter Dube, might fall by the way side, it is imperative that the incoming members of the executive let Mafu do his job unhindered.
They should not feel the urge to interfere because he was appointed by the previous executive but allow him to work undisturbed as he seeks to restore glory at Amahlolanyama.
The current executive is mandated to act in the best interest of the club and waiting for elections to be held would have been disastrous thus those who might take over should respect their decisions as they should be binding.
Bosso is the oldest football club in this country, Bosso is the way of life to many in this City of Kings, and when it (Bosso) sneezes almost everyone catches a cold.
With the likes of Mandla Mpofu, and the equally respectable “Super’’ Netsai Moyo romped into the Highlanders technical set-up, we can only hope that Umantengwane will again scale to those dizzy heights.
Online Reporter