Online Reporter
Innocent Kurira, Zimpapers Sports Hub
THIS Sunday, Pieter De Jongh returns to Barbourfields Stadium not as a rival or a forgotten figure but as the man tasked with rescuing Highlanders from the jaws of relegation.
Bosso are just four points off the drop zone, and the danger is real. Yet the club has turned to a familiar face, the last man to deliver silverware to Emagumeni. De Jongh, affectionately nicknamed Hlabangana, brought the black-and-white to life in 2019 when he guided them to Chibuku Super Cup glory and transformed a poor start into a respectable sixth-place league finish. His dances with the fans, his passion on the touchline and his instant impact made him a darling of Barbourfields.
That fairytale ended in heartbreak. His shock switch to FC Platinum left bitterness in the Bosso family. At one point, his parting shot that “Highlanders is finished, the book is closed” stung supporters like a dagger to the heart.
But football has a way of writing new chapters. Six years later, the Dutchman is back and this time the mission is survival. “About six years ago, in 2019, I was here. Everyone knows Bosso has great fans and enormous support. If you look from 2011 to 2025, the club has only one major trophy. I am happy to be back because there is a great atmosphere at Barbourfields. I am here for one reason, to help the club survive in the Premier League. The past is the past. I am glad to return. My target is saving the club from relegation. We need to reach 40 points. It is tough because many big teams are also fighting to survive,” said De Jongh.
The coach believes the 2025 league is the most competitive in years. “There are no easy games anymore. Every point has to be earned. That is why we need our supporters now more than ever.”
Bosso fans are known for their unwavering loyalty and on Sunday they are expected to fill Barbourfields and rally behind their team in their clash with Yadah. De Jongh says the past is forgiven and forgotten, and that only unity will carry the team through the storm.
For Bosso, survival is the new trophy, and with Hlabangana back at the helm, the fight has bright prospects.
