Chronicle Editor
Lovemore Dube , Sports Hub Coordinator
HIGHLANDERS FC will have to make wise buys to turn around their fortunes on the field of play as they assault the league championship that has eluded them since 2006.
While the club has always had a precarious financial position, the sooner they realise money talks in this business, the better so that they up the game and challenge company sponsored clubs like Chicken Inn, Greenfuel, Manica Diamonds, Ngezi Platinum and FC Platinum.
These clubs are threatening to suffocate the traditional big three of Caps United, Dynamos and Highlanders who have dominated the football scene since 1979. They have the money while the three have the crowds and rich history but it is results now that matter than legacies.
Highlanders were resolute for the first 19 matches of the campaign going that long without conceding defeats. They were a low-scoring team galvanised by organised and efficient defence with set-pieces contributing a majority of the goals scored by the club.
However, the defence that was at their heartbeat last season looks threatened with three of its members likely to be on their way out with FC Platinum and Ngezi Platinum likely destinations for stalwarts Peter Muduhwa, Mbongeni Ndlovu and Andrew Mbeba.
With the impending departures new coach Kelvin Kaindu will have a lot to do to plug in those holes. He will need players to work around with to play in front of dependable Ariel Sibanda the reigning Goalkeeper of the Year.
Among some of the players the club should consider is Hwange right-back Jofias Mupande.
Talen Vision’s Daven Fuzani could just be the deal too. He is full of energy good defensively and enterprising on the overlap. He can be relied on to send those pinpoint crosses the club was enjoying from national team right-back Mbeba.
From the days of Zenzo Dabengwa, Augustine Lunga, Fanuel Ncube, Mercedes Sibanda and Noel Kaseke, Highlanders’ play tends to be around wing play and crosses into the box.
It is at the heart of the defence where the club must be worried most. Muduhwa is irreplaceable, he had endeared himself with the position to Highlanders supporters and the playing staff. He was the 12th man on the field urging his teammates to raise their game and whenever he went on forays up field, it lifted both fans and players signalling that a goal was needed.
He had charisma seen in players like Alexander Maseko, Thulani “Biya” Ncube, James Nxumalo and Douglas Mloyi, big and imposing as well in the Bosso line up.
A player like Malvin Mkolo of Bulawayo Chiefs would be a great replacement for Muduhwa. He comes from Victoria Falls a Highlanders mad town and has lived in Bulawayo to have a rub off of what Bosso is and what it means to play for it.
Ndlovu was in 2023 the vital cog in defence. He may not have the charisma to attract media attention, but he was the main man cleaning up for the back four always with his committed displays. He was a typical mopping up defender who everyone got praises or seen after he would have saved situations.
He is not the most skilful of centre-backs nor the biggest, his heart compensated for all that with great displays every match.
Highlanders will need to look at some of the good players from Division One clubs in the city for a central defender with those attributes to be part of the pool as there is also Andrew Tandi who is expected to be match fit come 2024 season.
Tandi battled with injury all year.
Charlton Siamonga a Bosso product had a good season at Arenel and could be a good bet since he has an appreciation of the club, a majority of the players and his Division One excursion could just be what the doctor ordered.
With Godfrey Makaruse still injured and most likely to stay on the sidelines beyond March, the left-back position is a worrisome tale. So many goals were scored through it with young left-back Archieford Faira still learning the ropes. He did not have the instincts to deal with pacey wingers and may prove a revelation if pushed forward as left link a position that appeared not adequately covered as many tried out and failed to impress.
There has been talk of Bruce Kangwa and Hwange’s Brendon Rendo.
Both have good defensive qualities and are utility players that can be played in a number of positions. But it is the defensive qualities, positional discipline and calculated movements down the line or cut ins that could help Highlanders. They are good at having the coach keep his width on the offensive.
Highlanders had probably the softest anchormen in the league last season in Brighton Manhire and Melikhaya Ncube. They allowed opposition midfielders to boss around and carve open the Bosso defence despite being very solid it ended up giving in to marauding opponents.
Bosso lacked a Thabani Goredema or Cedric Chinomona type of a linkman who in the second encounter with in a match, the opponent will not try tricks as they are hard on the tackle. Both Ncube and Manhire never served time for suspensions meaning they were too soft.
Without wingers who carry the ball, get others to play and cross the ball apart from creating chances and spotkicks,
Highlanders will have to go to the market and get players like Issa Sadiki. His brother Tapuwa Kapini a club legend has said the boy is available.
He is a typical hard-running type of Bosso winger who subtracts defenders, has fans on the edges of their seats like Tommy Masuku, Doughty Sithole, Madinda Ndlovu, Morgan Phiri and Siza Khoza. When the fans are up and whistling before a packed Barbourfields Stadium, many opponents collapse.
Highlanders needs those wingers on both flanks.
The team missed a commanding defensive midfielder and another central midfielder behind the strikers. There is a need for a player to fill that hole and make everyone play in attack.
Kangwa can fill in that role and also play a decoy striker if need be.
Highlanders need to recruit scoring strikers with the right built and hunger for success.
The solution could lie in Mosi Rovers’ Ryan Ncube, Mainline of Plumtree’s Proud Khuphe and Jodarn Sinott’s Mthokozisi Ncube.
Soon to be out of contract at Chicken Inn, Brian Muza could be another striking bet, he never stops running and keeps trying and can be thrown at the wing and has pace and a great shot from distance.
There were so many players last season who could not even be squad players at some of the top clubs in the Premiership.
Highlanders need to buy. Hunting for players must be about the club and not to expose other clubs’ players with half-baked talent that is not better than what Bosso90 has in store.
Bongani Ndlovu