Highlanders Football Club

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Highlanders ‘Bosso’ Football Club
Bossoshield.png
Nickname(s)Bosso, Tshilamoya
Founded1926
GroundBabourfields Stadium (Emagumeni)
CoachBaltemar Brito
LeagueZimbabwe Premier Soccer League
WebsiteClub home page


Highlanders Football Club popularly known as Bosso is one of the oldest football clubs in Zimbabwe which was formed in 1926 and is based in Bulawayo.Its current coach is Portuguese Baltemar Brito and Barbourfields Stadium is the home ground of the team. The team has so far won 9 Premier Soccer League (PSL) titles, 6 independence trophies and it has also played in the CAF Champions League. In 2013, the team won the Mbada Diamonds Cup.

Formation and Expansion of the Club

The club was formed in 1926 by Albert and Rhodes, who were King Lobengula's grandchildren.[1] It was initially called Lions Football Club and in 1936, it was renamed to Matebeleland Highlanders Football Club (MHFC).[1] In 1963, almost all players of the team defected to join the newly formed Cobras Football Club.[2] This had a negative impact on MHFC which was almost paralysed. Edward Dlamini worked tireless to assist the team from sinking.[2] The club was able to make an impact in the next three years.

In 1966 the team was attested in the Rhodesian National Football League (RNFL) and left the league in 1976.[1] Contrary to this, it has also been stated that between 1964 and 1968, the team was playing in the Bulawayo African Football Association and not in the RNFL.[2] It has was reported that the RNFL was biased hence African teams were not part of the RNFL. In 1970, MHFC had joined the Super League.[1]

In 1975, the prefix 'Matebeleland' was dropped and the former MHFC was now simply known as Highlanders Football Club (HFC). Joshua Nkomo who was the then leader of the Zimbabwe African People's Union (ZAPU) always made scathing attacks towards the use of tribal names by football teams.[2] The renaming of HFC from MHFC was a response to Nkomo's stance.

Executive Management

  • President -
  • Acting Chief Executive Officer - Ronald Moyo
  • Chairman - Johnfart Sibanda
  • Vice Chairman - Fiso Siziba
  • Secretary General - Morgen Dube
  • Treasurer - Busani Mthombeni
  • Committee Member - Mgcini Mafu

2023 Squad

Goalkeepers

Defenders

  • Peter Muduhwa
  • Andrew Mbeba
  • Andrew Thandi
  • Archiford Faira
  • Mbongeni Ndlovu
  • Godfrey Makaruse
  • Marvelous Chigumira
  • Gillian Nyathi

Midfielders

  • Rahman Kutsanzira
  • Melikhaya Ncube
  • Darlington Mukuli
  • Brighton Manhire
  • Prince Ndlovu
  • Elsharma Farasi
  • Mckinnon Mushore
  • Mason Mushore
  • Ray Lunga
  • Devine Mhindirira

Forwards

Honours

  1. Winners of the RNFL in 1958 and 1975
  2. Chibuku Trophy Winners (1980)
  3. Heroes Cup Champions (1980)
  4. 7 times winners of the PSL (1990, 1993, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2006)
  5. Mbada Diamond Cup (2013)
  6. Chibuku Super Cup Winners (2019)
  7. Castle Lager Challenge Cup Finalists (2020)

CAF Champions Appearances

CAF Cup Winners'

  1. 1986
  2. 1987
  3. 1992

African Cup Of Champions Club

  1. 1991
  2. 1994

CAF Confederations Cup

  1. 2008
  2. 2011

CAF Champions League

  1. 2000
  2. 2001
  3. 2002
  4. 2003
  5. 2007[1]

Former Managers

  1. Rahman Gumbo
  2. Eddie May
  3. Nqobile Mafu
  4. Kelvin Kaindu
  5. Methembe Ndlovu
  6. Cosmas Zulu
  7. Madinda Ndlovu
  8. Elroy Akbay
  9. Dick Chama
  10. Hendrik Pieter de Jongh
  11. Mark Harrison

Greatest Players who played for Bosso

  1. Adam Ndlovu
  2. Peter Ndlovu- He was the first African player to play in the newly established EPL.
  3. Madinda Ndlovu
  4. Dazzy Kapenya
  5. Willard Khumalo
  6. Mercedes Sibanda
  7. Rahman Gumbo
  8. Tapuwa Kapini
  9. Zenzo Moyo
  10. Abraham Mbambo
  11. Tymon Mabaleka
  12. Stewart Murisa
  13. Douglas Mloyi
  14. Barry Daka

Current Technical Team

  • Head Coach - Baltemar Brito
  • First Assistant Coach - Madinda Ndlovu
  • Second Assistant Coach - Antonio Torres
  • Strikers Coach - Joel Luphahla
  • Goalkeepers Coach - Daniel Khumalo
  • Fitness Trainer - Abraham Mubaiwa
  • Team Doctor/ Medic - Dr. Shepherd Khumalo
  • Physiotherapist - Loyal Nyika
  • Welfare & Logistics Manager - Vezigama Dlodlo

Sponsors

Highlanders announced a three-year partnership with new technical sponsor, England-based sportswear provider On the Ball (OTB) worth US$300,000. Bosso, who parted ways with sportswear manufacturer Roar, announced the arrival of OTB as their new sponsor at a colourful ceremony at a Bulawayo hotel on 26 November 2020. Bosso got four sets of playing kit, a short and long-sleeved traditional zebra-striped shirt, which they can alternate with black or white shorts, as well as an all-black and all-white playing kit.

The deal also includes four sets of training kit made up of neon, orange, red and peppermint green, accompanied by black shorts.[3]

Bosso head to head with DeMbare

  • 02.11.2019 Dynamos FC 1-1 Highlanders FC
  • 16.06.2019 Highlanders FC 1-0 Dynamos FC
  • 09.09.2018 Highlanders FC 3-0 Dynamos FC
  • 02.04.2018 Dynamos FC 0-1 Highlanders
  • 10.09.2017 Dynamos FC 1-1 Highlanders FC
  • 14.05.2017 Highlanders FC 0-3 W.O Dynamos FC
  • 11.09.2016 Highlanders FC 2-1 Dynamos FC
  • 28.05.2016 Dynamos FC 0-2 Highlanders FC
  • 26.07.2015 Highlanders FC 1-1 Dynamos FC
  • 28.06.2015 Dynamos FC 3-2 Highlanders FC
  • 09.08.2014 Highlanders FC 0-1 Dynamos FC
  • 22.06.2014 Dynamos FC 1-0 Highlanders FC
  • 27.10.2013 Highlanders FC 0-1 Dynamos FC
  • 21.04.2013 Dynamos FC 1-1 Highlanders FC
  • 28.10.2012 Dynamos FC 1-1 Highlanders FC
  • 22.07.2012 Highlanders FC 1-1 Dynamos FC
  • 25.04.2011 Highlanders FC 0-0 Dynamos FC
  • 26.09.2010 Highlanders FC 0-3 Dynamos FC
  • 28.04.2010 Dynamos FC 1-0 Highlanders FC
  • 08.11.2009 Highlanders FC 0-1 Dynamos FC
  • 26.04.2009 Dynamos FC 4-0 Highlanders FC
  • 02.11.2008 Dynamos FC 1-1 Highlanders FC
  • 13.07.2008 Highlanders FC 1-1 Dynamos FC
  • 11.11.2007 Dynamos FC 0-0 Highlanders FC
  • 06.04.2007 Highlanders FC 1-2 Dynamos FC
  • 30.07.2006 Highlanders FC 2-0 Dynamos FC
  • 02.07.2006 Dynamos FC 0-1 Highlanders FC
  • 17.07.2005 Highlanders FC 1-1 Dynamos FC
  • 10.07.2005 Dynamos FC 0-0 Highlanders FC
  • 21.11.2004 Dynamos FC 0-1 Highlanders FC
  • 30.05.2004 Highlanders FC 2-1 Dynamos FC
  • 14.09.2003 Dynamos FC2 -0 Highlanders FC
  • 24.08.2003 Highlanders FC 0-3 Dynamos FC
  • 28.07.2002 Highlanders FC 0-1 Dynamos FC
  • 31.03.2002 Dynamos FC 0-0 Highlanders FC[4]


Prominent Players

Bruce Grobbelaar, Dumisani Ngulube, Peter Ndlovu, Adam Ndlovu, Madinda Ndlovu, Willard Khumalo, Master Masiku, Rahman Gumbo, Lawrence Phiri.

The Firing of Players

Former Highlanders Coach Bongani Mafu is said to have fired seven players which included the likes of Mthulisi Maphosa for cases of alleged indiscipline after it emerged that Maphosa had beaten up his girlfriend together with her alleged lover.[5] Other players that were also said to have been fired included Joel “Josta” Ngodzo, Dumisani “Fazo” Ndlovu, Njabulo “Tshiki” Ncube, Hillary Madzivanyika, Tapiwa Dephistara and goalkeeper Njabulo “Popo” Nyoni. Club CEO Ndumiso Gumede was reported to have confirmed the firing of Mthulisi Maphosa but not of the other six. Maphosa was also said to have been summoned by the club's disciplinary body for his wayward behaviour but the hearing failed to progress after Maphosa had argued that Highlanders had no jurisdiction summoning him for hearing since they had already fired him.

SuperFan Video

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 , History, "Highlanders Football Club",:,retrieved:16 July 2014"
  2. 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 , HIGHLANDERS FOOTBALL CLUB : SIYINQABA, "Zim Giants",:,retrieved:16 July 2014"
  3. Ricky Zililo, [1], Chronicle, Published: 26 November, 2020, Accessed: 26 January, 2021
  4. Sbue Head to head statistics, e Diski.com, Published: July 21, 2012, Retrieved: February 4, 2014
  5. BREAKING NEWS: Highlanders Fires 7 Players, ZimEye, Published: January 8, 2015, Retrieved: January 14, 2015

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