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Bulawayo Bureau
FORMER Highlanders captain Gilbert Banda has implored the current crop of Bosso players not to take their feet off the pedal in their quest to end the club’s 17-year-old championship trophy drought.
Bosso last clinched the country’s coveted elite football title in 2006 under the guidance of Methembe “Mayor” Ndlovu with Banda the skipper.
Speaking from his base in South Africa, the now retired Banda, a combative central defender during his playing days, challenged the present day Bosso army to continue doing well and bring back the old glory days.
“It’s always exciting to read and learn about the Highlanders’ winning streak. The boys are doing well. With this current form, I believe Bosso will take the championship.
“The boys need everyone’s support, all I can say is “Rise Bosso rise,” said Banda, a former Warriors player whose love and dedication to the Bosso badge was never doubted.
He added: “The boys should continue being motivated, I reckon that they should now invoke the yesteryear spirits. We achieved a lot courtesy of the love and support that we got from the fans and everyone who is still part of the Bosso family. I challenge the fans to give the boys all the necessary support. Bazabasukumisa (They will eject fans off their seats).”
Bosso are in a trailblazing mood and they are yet to taste defeat after 16 rounds of play in the 2023 league campaign.
On Sunday, in their now fashionable way, Bosso edged Manica Diamonds 1-0 to maintain their dominance and remain on top of the table, where they are four points clear of nearest rivals Ngezi Platinum Stars.
Forceful and gifted defender Peter Muduhwa grabbed the all-important goal for Highlanders in a tightly contested tie that was witnessed by a number of Bosso followers who now seemingly believe their club will grace the winners’ podium after 17 years of watching from the terraces.
Banda was part of the Bosso squad that conquered all and sundry combining well with the likes of Chipo Tsodzo, Danisa Phiri, creative Johannes “Tshisa” Ngodzo, Anzilom “Malume” Ndlovu, Honour Gombami, goalkeeper Washington Arubi and the late Richard “Dabuka” Choruma.
Portuguese coach Baltemar Brito, who has broken a few jinxes since taking over the job last year, is tipped to take Highlanders over the wire.
Brito is not one to shy away from speaking his mind.
Perhaps, that is another trait he learnt from the legendary coach Jose Mourinho whom he worked with for a number of years.
In his latest post match interview after his team won 1-0 against Manica Diamonds at Barbourfields Stadium, Brito said the Bosso family should not live in the past but instead grow into a bigger brand.
“We came into the game without any knowledge of the opponent. The only advantage was we have played this coach before and had an idea of how he structures his team. We don’t have analysts, we don’t have videos.
“How do you prepare for a match without these things? We care and try to be professional. The day we relax and are happy will be the day Highlanders start to grow. We come from a culture that is more about growth.
“We demand more and more if we stop demanding from the people to do the right things, we stop as an institution and maybe it was because of it that Highlanders in the last years stopped growing as an institution and other teams developed.
“Highlanders is a big team but people cannot relax just by the past. We have to keep going, understanding that we are big but we can be bigger. There are a lot of things that we can do everywhere.
“We are always unhappy because this is our life. I came here, I don’t see my son in nine months, it’s not easy. If we are here to just sit and drink some Zambezi then we would rather stay at home,” said Brito.
Brito has Bosso fans dreaming right now.
The Bulawayo giants are top of the PSL table with 34 points from 16 outings.
They are unbeaten this season with nine wins and seven stalemates. They enjoy a four-point lead over second-placed Ngezi Platinum who sit on 30 points.
Bosso have now won five games in a row and the fans are believing this could be their year.
At some point, Bosso were at this stage, during Kelvin Kaindu’s time in charge when they pulled a sensational performance, going 23 games unbeaten.
Again, back in the 2006 season, they did not lose their opening 12 games and even won 10 games on the trot on their way to winning the title. That 2006 championship squad rekindled memories of the trailblazing Bosso team that won championships in a row between 1998 and 2002, as fans packed Barbourfields on match days.
Online Reporter