Chronicle Editor
Mehluli Sibanda, Senior Sports Reporter
HIGHLANDERS had one of their worst seasons in 2019 when the team went for eight league matches without tasting victory.
They started off their 2019 campaign with a 1-1 draw against Black Rhinos which was followed by yet another stalemate, this time goalless against Caps United before Harare City delivered a 3-1 heavy blow on Tshilamoya.
Match day four saw Triangle overpower Highlanders 1-0 at Gibbo before Bosso were held to a 0-0 draw at home by Mushowani Stars, a result followed by another goalless stalemate against Hwange at the Colliery. Chicken Inn thumped Highlanders 3-0 in match day seven prior to Bosso firing blanks again in a 0-0 draw with Herantals.
Bosso finally remembered to win when they defeated TelOne 1-0 away, with the winning goal coming from Ray Lunga.
The first win of the season came after five draws and three defeats. In those eight matches, Highlanders only scored two goals and conceded eight.
Madinda Ndlovu, the head coach then picked up three more wins, his last being a 1-0 triumph over bitter rivals Dynamos at Barbourfields before he quit Highlanders to take up a job at Gaborone United.
Highlanders eventually finished sixth with 46 points, picked up from 10 wins and 16 draws. Bosso were on the losing end eight times in 2019.
Assistant coaches, Mandla Mpofu and Bekithemba Ndlovu were left in charge of the team until Highlanders engaged Dutchman Pieter de Jongh in September of that year.
Fast forward to 2021, Highlanders have had yet another terrible start to the 2021/22 season, which has seen them collect just a point from a possible nine.
Highlanders started off with a 2-0 loss to Black Rhinos in Harare, drew 0-0 at Barbourfields with Ngezi Platinum Stars before they were beaten 1-0 by Manica Diamonds last Sunday.
At the start of the season, Highlanders chairman, Johnfat Sibanda declared that Bosso were gunning for the championship, something they last tasted way back in 2006.
Sibanda cannot be faulted for having such ambitions, after all Highlanders got a massive sponsorship from Sakunda Holdings who are also sponsoring Dynamos.
Bosso also because of their stature should be competiting for the grand prize every season.
Highlanders, who are meant to be going for the title are already eight points away from the number one position that is at the moment occupied by Manica Diamonds. Ngezi Platinum, another title contender is six points ahead of Highlanders. Bosso also trail DeMbare and FC Platinum by five points.
Such deficits will not be easy to wipe out considering the fact that the teams above Highlanders are sure to continue picking up positive results.
With the league action taking a break until after the Africa Cup of Nations, it means Bosso will head into the New Year in the relegation zone. Highlanders are 16th on the log, only better than Tenax and Bulawayo City.
It remains to be seen how much more patience will the Highlanders leadership be with Mpofu.
The coach has a US$60 000 war chest during the January transfer window which he can use to bolster his squad. How he uses those funds will determine how much longer Mpofu remains Highlanders coach.
Highlanders were patient with Madinda in 2019 when results were not coming. Will they remain the same with Lulu if the team continues with the way it started the season?
One thing for sure is that Mpofu is a likeable guy but Highlanders supporters are a difficult lot to please, the coach just has to deliver or else he will find himself jobless.
There is no indications at the moment that Highlanders are planning to replace Mpofu, which shows that they are prepared to give him a little bit more time to find the winning formula. — @Mdawini_29
Online Reporter