Highlanders pre-season preparations The key to better fortunes?

A poor pre-season for Highlanders was among the key reasons attributed to the team’s disastrous performance last year.

Highlanders survived relegation on the last day of the 2025 Castle Lager Premiership campaign and finished a disappointing 11th.

They failed to go for a pre-season camp to bond and they did not participate in the transfer market meaningfully to replace star players Devine Mhindirira, Marvelous Chigumira, Peter Muduhwa, Lynoth Chikuhwa and Godfrey Makarutse.

Lack of talent and depth were key weaknesses in a season that the club engaged three sets of coaches.
Highlanders started with Kelvin Kaindu, Try Ncube and Agent Sawu and the trio lasted the first half of the season.

Ncube was thrown the challenge and despite money for players being made available by benefactor Wicknell Chivayo, he and Agent Sawu were not allowed to buy players of their choice.

August saw the arrival of Pieter de Jongh and new players but despite this, Bosso finished 11th, the worst position in years.

De Jongh insisted he had accomplished his mission of saving the club from relegation and that reaching the semis of the Chibuku Super Cup was a bonus.

The Dutch coach won the tournament in 2019 with Bosso before ditching the club for FC Platinum.
Highlanders are under Benjani Mwaruwari, a Zimbabwe football legend with a footprint in South Africa, Switzerland, France and England. A man who has rubbed shoulders with some of the game’s biggest names and his arrival coincided with a US$300 000 kit to help the club and also to bring in new players.

There is renewed hope at Highlanders of better times to come as Amahlolanyama seek to travel to Malawi for a series of friendly matches and a team building 10-day sojourn.

Highlanders who play Dynamos on February 15, will leave by road on the following day.

Hopes are high that the technical team will have concluded deals for new players and will take a group of 25 senior players and five Under-20.

Funds for the tour are expected to come from the club’s all-weather friend Chivayo who has shown a keen interest in making Highlanders great again.

He has delivered on his promise of a luxurious bus, which is now in the country.

Asked about the tour of Malawi, the Bosso chief executive officer Denzil Mnkandla said nothing had been finalised but a source in the club’s administration said a lot of ground has been covered in preparing for the trip.

Meanwhile, a number of big names have been linked to Highlanders and these include Lawrence Mhlanga, Kudakwashe Mahachi, Silas Songani, Tafadzwa Rusike, Aron Ngwenya, Rainsome Pavari, Shelton Moyo, Sherperd Mhlanga and creative midfielder, Mongameli Tshuma.

Melikhaya Ncube, Arthur Ndlovu, Raphael Pitisi, Atusaye Nyondo, Martin Nhubu, Learnmore Muyambo, Mckninnon Mushore, Honest Mhlanga and Mason Mushore left the club last season.