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Innocent Kurira, Lovemore Dube
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HIGHLANDERS interim coach Try Ncube is standing on the edge of a cliff, without a goal, without a win, and with growing pressure from all sides. As Bosso prepare to host GreenFuel at Barbourfields Stadium on Sunday, Ncube has appealed to the club’s famously loyal fans to help his team climb out of its worst run of the season.
“The supporters have to come out in their numbers and support the boys. They’ve been with us through thick and thin and this game is no exception. We are going to deliver,” Ncube declared defiantly.
But belief alone won’t win football matches.
The Bulawayo giants are now three matches without a goal. Their last home game ended in boos, emptying terraces and a late sucker punch from MWOS. Last week’s stalemate in Gweru only deepened the gloom. Ncube’s short reign has yet to produce either a goal or a victory and Sunday’s fixture isn’t just about points, it’s a test of trust between the team and its supporters.
“The boys are training well. Everyone’s available except for Tendai Muvuti and Archford Faira, who are out this week. Mafios Junior Chihweta is back and should be ready on Sunday,” Ncube said. “We’ve been working flat out with the midfielders and forwards to fix our finishing. We’re hopeful we’ll score this time.”
Highlanders sit ninth on the log with 24 points, just four ahead of 13th-placed GreenFuel, coached by Rodwell Dhlakama.
Despite their inconsistency, GreenFuel will fancy their chances if Highlanders continue to misfire.
Off the pitch, the club’s leadership is scrambling to plug holes in a team that’s looked increasingly blunt and toothless.
Acting CEO Kindman Ndlovu confirmed the club is chasing reinforcements in the transfer window.
“We’re not happy with the performance of the team,” Ndlovu said. “The coaches have submitted their wish list. We’ve begun engaging clubs and players to strengthen the squad.”
That wish list includes at least two strikers and an attacking midfielder, key positions Ncube believes are critical to breaking Bosso’s scoring drought. But mid-season transfers are rarely simple. Many targets are locked into contracts, and costs are steep.
Still, Ndlovu insists the current coaching team has the board’s full backing.
“We’ve not advertised the coaching job. We’re focused on supporting the current structure. But of course, we’ve received unsolicited applications, local and foreign, and if anything changes, we’ll advise.”
That hasn’t stopped debate from boiling over.
Former Bosso board member Thomas Ngwenya believes Kelvin Kaindu, sacked just before businessman Wicknell Chivayo pledged US$50 000 for transfers, was unfairly shown the door.
“Perhaps Kaindu should’ve been allowed to stay and use the funds to build. He never had access to that much at once,” Ngwenya said. “If Ncube isn’t given the same chance, we’ll continue to swim in mediocrity.”
Ngwenya added: “It would be a miracle if he gets results with what’s in the basket now. You can be a great coach, but without players, you’re going nowhere.”
Highlanders haven’t lifted the league title since 2006, their longest drought since joining Zimbabwean football in 1969. And the squad’s been stripped of key players like Peter Muduhwa, Godfrey Makaruse, Marvelous Chigumira, and Lynoth Chikuhwa, with no like-for-like replacements coming in.
Even promising youngsters like Brighton Manhire have left, further weakening the spine of the side.
Another young striker Panashe Mushonga was also on the verge of leaving after being frozen out of action for the first half of the season, due to some administrative gaffe that resulted in his botched Premier Soccer League registration.
His registration has since been regularised and availing the forward as another of Ncube’s selection otpions as Boss seek to end their goal drought.
Highlanders fans know all too well how quickly a season can unravel.
If the team fails to strike a balance between recruitment and performance, they risk tumbling further down the table and out of relevance.
Sunday may not decide the season, but it could determine how long Ncube stays in the dugout.
And it looks to be a tough afternoon given that returning GreenFuel coach Rodwell Dhlakama has his own pressure to register his first win with the Chisumbanje outfit.
Dhlakama, who has since replaced Taurai Mangwiro has managed a draw (0-0) against CAPS United away in his first game in charge and a 0-1 defeat by Ngezi Platinum Stars.
Just like Bosso, GreenFuel will arrive in Bulawayo knowing that there is little margin of error as they are also still not safe from the drop zone.
Peter Tanyanyiwa