For a club steeped in tradition and revered as a symbol of pride in Bulawayo and beyond, Highlanders’ 19-year league title drought is nothing short of tragic.
What was once a powerhouse of Zimbabwean football has become a shadow of itself, undone by poor administration, a fading cultural heritage, and the neglect of its once-vibrant junior programme.
Highlanders’ glory days were never an accident.
The foundation of its success lay in a structured youth policy under the legendary Ali “Baba” Dube, which produced names that still resonate across the footballing world.
The likes of Peter Ndlovu and his brother Adam, Benjamin Konjera, Alexander Maseko, Mercedes Sibanda, Willard Khumalo as well as Gift Lunga Jr, among others were not just players — they were Bosso to the core.
They grew up breathing the Highlanders culture, carrying an institutionalised loyalty that money could never buy.
Today, that pipeline has dried up. Just like their equally fading Harare counterpart Dynamos, Highlanders now depend on buying players who often have no emotional attachment to the club.
These “mercenaries” may deliver in patches, but they lack the burning desire to fight for the badge.
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Without a deliberate revival of its junior structures, Highlanders cannot dream of regaining its lost mojo.
The problems go beyond the field. Administration at Bosso has been nothing short of chaotic.
The executive’s failure to run the club transparently and competently has bred corruption, financial strain, and the loss of potential sponsors.
The discontent has been so palpable that die-hard supporters — the lifeblood of the club — have, at times, boycotted home games to register their anger.
When your fans stop turning up, you know something is deeply wrong.
Technically, Bosso has become a revolving door.
Coaches are hired, fired, rehired, and recycled in endless cycles that betray a lack of vision. Kelvin Kaindu, Madinda Ndlovu, Rahman “Rush” Gumbo, and Hendrik Pieter de Jongh have all been paraded in and out as though the club is unsure of what it wants. Instead of nurturing long-term technical stability, Highlanders has chosen quick fixes — and the results are plain to see.
Even worse, talented players have been allowed to walk away.
Several stars have left to join new clubs like Scottland, with Bosso seemingly powerless to hold onto its gems.
For a team with the backing of major sponsors like Sakunda and Better Brands, it is baffling that retention of talent remains such a glaring weakness.
Nineteen years without a league title should serve as a painful wake-up call.
Highlanders is more than just a football club; it is a cultural institution, a symbol of resilience, and an identity for millions.
If Bosso fails, the very spirit of community football in Zimbabwe dims.
It is time for the Highlanders leadership to look inward.
Revive the junior policy. Clean up the executive.
Build sustainable technical structures. Keep the players who bleed black and white.
Only then can the club reclaim its rightful place at the top.
Because Bosso needs us. And we all need Bosso.
