Online Reporter
Fungai Muderere, Zimpapers Sports Hub
NKEMBE the return!
FORMER Warriors, Mamelodi Sundowns, Orlando Pirates and Chicken Inn midfielder Kudakwashe Mahachi is reportedly training with Bulawayo football giants Highlanders.
Mahachi, recently parted ways with Manica Diamonds.
“Yes, I can confirm that Kuda Mahachi is training with us,” said Bosso chief executive officer Denzil Mnkandla.
“For now what I can say, he is keeping fit and well stand advised by our coaches. It’s a player and coaches recruitment season. He started training on Friday,” said Mnkandla.
In the build up to their year’s campaign, the Bulawayo football giants parted ways with several players bringing on board five new faces in the process.
The new signings are Pride Zendera who spent the past season inactive.
Zendera has joined the black and white army together with Mongameli Tshuma, Tawanda Shenje from Hwange, Royn Nyamono from Bikita Minerals and Rayton Chuma from National University of Science and Technology (Nust).
Bosso are no longer with Mason Mushore, Mckinnon Mushore, Melikhaya Mthabisi Ncube, Honest Mhlanga, Nqobile Ndlovu, Martin Nhubu, Atusaye Nyondo and Learnmore Muyambo.
Bosso welcomed their new coach in South African tactician Thabo Senong a fortnight ago but returned to his country to wait for his work permit.
He will be assisted by former Highlanders player Mkhokheli Dube.
Dube’s return has been welcomed as a significant boost to the dressing room.
As a former Highlanders player, he is regarded as a respected member of the Bosso family whose understanding of the club’s culture, values and traditions will play a key role in supporting the technical team and motivating players.
Highlanders said further additions to the technical team and playing staff will be announced in due course.
Senong (45), a South African mentor has been tasked with guiding Highlanders to a top-six finish this season, as the club marks 100 years of existence, with junior development identified as a key pillar of the long-term strategy.
Senong signed a two-year contract to spearhead Bosso’s rebuilding exercise, an exercise that has so far seen the club sign five new players.
Meanwhile Highlanders and Agent Sawu are close to a solution.
The two parties have engaged with a view of resolving differences following the club’s decision to terminate the former Warriors striker’s contract with a year to go.
Sawu and other members of the technical team had their contracts terminated after a result-less two years in which three head coaches took over the hot seat, but still results eluded the club.
Boss chief executive officer Mnkandla confirmed that both parties are in the process of engagement.
There had been reports earlier that Sawu had engaged lawyers, demanding US$6 000 in signing-on fees and a monthly salary and anticipated bonuses and other allowances for the whole of 2026, after the club allegedly unprocedurally terminated his contract, which was supposed to end on 31 December.
“It is not factual that Mr Agent Sawu took the club to court,” said Mnkandla.
He added: “I would like to correct that. Mr Sawu has no legal representation in the matter, in which there is a strong belief that an outcome that suits both parties will be reached. For now we reserve the right to make any comments on the matter as we look forward to solving it privately.”
However, according to sources within the Highlanders hierarchy, Sawu is reportedly being represented by Victor Kucherera of Wallace Law Chambers.
The letter of demand gleaned by this reporter reads in part:
“We act on behalf of Agent Sawu, the assistant coach formerly employed by Highlanders Football Club.
“Our client has carefully considered the contents of your correspondence and places it on record that he disputes both the basis and legality of the purported termination.”
Spirited efforts to get a comment from Sawu were fruitless.
The source said that within the Highlanders hierarchy, Sawu was engaged on a fixed-term employment contract running until 31 December 2026.
“The contract, by its unambiguous terms, does not grant either party an unfettered right to unilaterally terminate the agreement before its expiry, save in circumstances expressly provided for therein.
“Clause 5(a) of the contract specifically provides that termination shall be by mutual consent of the parties,” reads the letter of demand.
“At no point did our client agree, expressly or impliedly, to the termination of his contract. In the absence of such mutual consent, the club’s decision to terminate constitutes a repudiation of the contract.
“Further, your reliance on alleged non-compliance with Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) is misplaced. Our client was never subjected to any formal performance review process, disciplinary inquiry or hearing.
“He was not furnished with any written warnings, adverse performance reports or remedial action plans, nor was he afforded an opportunity to make representations regarding the alleged failure to meet targets,” read the letter.
Sawu is demanding signing-on fees, salary for 2026 and winning bonuses.
“Agent joined us here at Highlanders in 2025 and was supposed to be paid US$3 000 in signing-on fees and he was also supposed to be paid US$3 000 for 2026 because his contract was supposed to expire on 31 December this year.
“Given that his contract was supposed to end at the end of the year, he was supposed to be paid a monthly salary, which I cannot disclose to you and he is demanding it,” said the source.
Kucherera confirmed that he is representing Sawu but declined to shed more light.
Bosso have since parted ways with first their head coach Hendrik Pieter de Jongh, first assistant coach
Try Ncube and goalkeepers coach Tembo Chuma.
Chuma is now in the books of MWOS FC.
—@FungaiMuderere
