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I HAVE had the privilege of associating with some of the best football brands in Bulawayo in the last 20 years. They were a young group of enthusiastic and well educated guys. They had one common denominator, the passion especially for junior development and research.
These are Charles Mhlauri whom I met during his Phinda Mzala sojourn, a promising project of talented footballers, Keutsepilemang Ndebele, Bongani Mafu, Benjamin Moyo, Dumaza Dube and Dalubuhle Bhebhe.

A football discussion with them is an enriching moment for those who want to appreciate its most technical bit.

I was at Chishamiso Stadium at the beginning of the Premier League season this year. I had somehow convinced Ndebele that it was worth a drive to watch Highlanders playing away than at home. He is resident outside the country and is active on social media about the game he loves most and will drop a comment once in a while about the team he grew up watching – Highlanders FC.

There was Kudakwashe Mahachi strutting his own thing on the right of the Highlanders midfield, with Milton Ncube running himself to a standstill.
Ndebele had to proceed to Harare the same day. So he undertook to watch the first half and a bit of the second.

There is one thing that he said to me that I have in recent weeks seen come to reality.

“You see Lovemore, this team’s backbone is Milton Ncube. He has a positive touch and drive. Every time he gains possession there’s something positive coming out,” Ndebele said.

From that day I watched Highlanders with a technical view to prove or to disapprove Ndebele’s assertion.

I eventually came to believe Highlanders was about the former Shooting Stars, FC Windermere and Motor Action utility player. He would drift into defence, help defend, be seen in midfield initiating attacks with the ball or off the ball with a positive run into a pocket of empty space.

Highlanders’ seeming revival in 2012 cannot be divorced from his arrival with Mthulisi Maphosa, Masimba Mambare and Peter Rio Moyo all talented midfielders who have even represented their country and been on the calendar.

Bosso were just unpredictable. Goals could flow from either wing and centre. The surprise element in Milton was very key.

When Maphosa, Moyo and Mambare’s form dipped last year, Milton remained the shining star.

This season before he left for South Africa he continued to trouble defences at will. He stunned the nation with stellar performances as a leftback for Ian Gorowa’s Warriors in the Chan tournament. He was among the reasons why Zimbabwe reached the semi-finals.

Highlanders’ slump in form in the second half of the season appeared to coincide with his departure to Ajax Cape Town. Bosso have been a big yawn and a very predictable lot that have made mockery of the jersey once donned by Madinda Ndlovu, Tito Paketh, Willard Khumalo, the late Nqobizitha Maenzanise, Douglas Mloyi, Cavin Duberley, Tommy Masuku, Barton Mwalukuka, Lazarus Mwambopo, Zenzo Moyo, Dazzy Kapenya, Siza Khoza, Noel Kaseke and lanky Thabani Masawi.

In the absence of a player like Milton who can eject the fans off their seats with a killer pass, a good run with the ball and a beautifully headed goal, or a top notch strike on the run, Highlanders have only managed nine points out of a possible 30. They have made a mockery of the striped jersey with losses in the Chibuku Super Cup and TM Challenge.

I have followed with interest the aftermath of my good old friend Kelvin Kaindu’s departure. Even opposition teams’ coaches and administrators have jumped to mourn louder than the bereaved.

Was it genuine or people were just acting, trying to be relevant?

Other coaches have been fired before and not much has been said even by this other association of hard to employ coaches, the Zimbabwe Soccer Coaches Association.

Why did they not make noise when coaches were scandalously choosing certain players for Asiagate?

Where were they when Zifa appointed a technical director who is junior to several coaches in the land who include Misheck Chidzambwa, Bennedict Moyo, Gibson Homela and Bongani Mafu?

How many times have the likes of Moses Chunga, Luke Masomere, Rahman Gumbo, Madinda Ndlovu, Max Takaendesa Jongwe, Elvis Chiweshe, Solomon Kaseke and Cosmas Zulu been fired only for the same association to keep mum?

Why don’t they form their own teams that they will make noise over?

Clubs set targets in as much as individual coaches do, once these are not met parting is the solution.

The circus has even been a good ring for the media to dance in with all of a sudden even some Highlanders’ opponents carrying sportswriters seemingly sympathetic and having sleepless nights praying for the revival of Bosso.

What the Bosso family needs is unity of purpose, something which has been prevalent in the past after elections or annual general meetings.

It’s not the first time the club finds itself in loss of form. In 1971 they collected a paltry seven points in their first year of top flight football and were relegated. The fans were steadfast saying they would even follow the club to Greenspan.

What has happened to that resolute slogan and spirit?

Administrators and coaches come and go but Bosso is expected to live on.

I was astonished yesterday to read about the team’s 2014 wish list which did not have players drawn from the club’s juniors. It is where Bosso seem to be missing the plot of late. Pfavayi, Mpala, Tshuma, Banda, Ndlovu and Paradza would be keen to travel to watch their neighbour’s son in action at Emagumeni. The boy’s friends, schoolmates from as early as creche would be up for the bragging rights too.

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