Online Reporter
Lovemore Dube
IS the Dutchman making a Bosso comeback?
Nomadic gaffer Pieter de Jongh has sparked serious speculation after being spotted at Highlanders’ match at Rufaro Stadium on Sunday, walking within earshot of club officials and a supporter close to the club’s top brass.
De Jongh, a fiery tactician with a colourful CV and flair for the dramatic, last coached Highlanders in 2019 when he guided them to a famous Chibuku Super Cup triumph. Since then, he has had stints with FC Platinum, the Somalia national team,
Silver Strikers of Malawi and most recently a brief and stormy two-month spell with Jwaneng Galaxy in Botswana.
With Bosso teetering just above the relegation zone, fans are demanding answers as the team’s once-feared strikeforce has turned toothless. The club has failed to score regularly and their slump in the last three months has triggered alarm bells.
Meanwhile, efforts to beef up the squad have hit a brick wall. Highlanders have failed to land key targets Obrey Chirinda, Nqobizitha Masuku, and Lynoth Chikuhwa.
Chirinda, captain at Ngezi Platinum, is staying put.
Masuku, who has been in Botswana with Jwaneng Galaxy, is believed to be eyeing a return but nothing has materialised.
Chikuhwa, despite Bosso’s interest, was shipped off to Chicken Inn by the deep-pocketed Scottland FC.
Highlanders have bled key players in the last year:
Mbongeni Ndlovu and Divine Mhindirira to FC Platinum
Peter Muduhwa, Godfrey Makaruse, Marvelous Chigumira and Chikuhwa to Scottland
And yet, no like-for-like replacements have come in.
To add salt to the wounds, insiders claim the executive has been sitting on US$50 000 meant for player signings during this window and time is running out.
“If the club doesn’t bring in serious quality within the next three days, even a coaching change won’t fix this mess,” said a source close to the dressing room.
When asked if de Jongh was indeed on Bosso’s radar, the club’s spokesperson Nozibelo Maphosa said she would respond on Monday morning but by noon there was still radio silence.
