Football Writer
The pressure is mounting at Barbourfields Stadium. Highlanders’ interim coach Try Ncube cuts a beleaguered figure, his side winless, goalless, and teetering on the brink of a full-blown crisis.
As Bosso prepare to face GreenFuel on Sunday, Ncube’s desperate plea to the fans carries the weight of a man who knows time—and patience—is running out.
“We need our supporters now more than ever,” Ncube implored. “They’ve stood by us through everything, and Sunday is no different. We will deliver.”
But belief alone won’t fix this.
Highlanders’ season is unravelling at an alarming rate. Three games without a goal. A disgruntled fanbase. The echoes of jeers still ringing from their last home outing, where a late MWOS sucker punch sent supporters streaming for the exits.
Last weekend’s drab stalemate in Gweru only deepened the gloom. Ncube’s tenure, however brief, has yet to spark a revival—no wins, no goals, and now, no margin for error.
Sunday isn’t just about points. It’s about trust.
A Squad Stretched to Breaking Point
Ncube insists the effort is there. “The boys are training hard,” he said. “Mafios Junior Chihweta is back, and apart from Tendai Muvuti and Archford Faira, we have everyone available.”
But effort alone doesn’t win football matches.
Highlanders sit ninth, just four points above GreenFuel, a side equally desperate for points. Rodwell Dhlakama’s men will smell blood if Bosso’s blunt attack fails to fire once more.
Behind the scenes, the club’s hierarchy is scrambling for solutions. Acting CEO Kindman Ndlovu confirmed reinforcements are being sought, with at least two strikers and an attacking midfielder on the wishlist.
“We’re not happy with the performances,” Ndlovu admitted. “We’re working on strengthening the squad.”
But mid-season recruitment is fraught with complications—contracts, costs, and competition make deals difficult. And time is not on their side.
A Board Under Fire
The club insists Ncube retains their backing—for now.
“We haven’t advertised the coaching job,” Ndlovu stressed. “We’re supporting the current structure.”
Yet whispers of discontent linger. Former board member Thomas Ngwenya has openly questioned the decision to sack Kelvin Kaindu just before businessman Wicknell Chivayo pledged $50,000 in transfer funds.
“Kaindu never had that kind of backing,” Ngwenya argued. “If Ncube isn’t given the same chance, we’ll keep floundering.”
He’s not wrong. Highlanders’ decline has been years in the making. No league title since 2006. Key players like Peter Muduhwa, Godfrey Makaruse, and Lynoth Chikuhwa gone without adequate replacements. Even promising youngsters like Brighton Manhire have slipped away.
Now, they’re a side stripped of identity—and goals.
A Season on the Brink
The return of Panashe Mushonga, after an administrative blunder left him in limbo, offers a glimmer of hope. But can one player fix a broken attack?
Highlanders’ fans know better than most how quickly a season can collapse. If recruitment isn’t matched by results, they risk sinking further into mid-table obscurity.
Sunday won’t decide their fate—but it could decide Ncube’s.
GreenFuel arrive with their own demons. Dhlakama, still chasing his first win since taking charge, knows defeat in Bulawayo would heap pressure on his own shoulders.
For Highlanders, the stakes are even higher. Another failure in front of goal, another afternoon of frustration, and the calls for change will grow louder.
Ncube is clinging on—but for how much longer?
