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Ricky Zililo Senior Sports Reporter—
DESPITE a poor season’s start, Highlanders FC coach Bongani Mafu maintains he is not under pressure but concedes that he has a challenge to find a remedy for their poor start. The Bulawayo giants are on position seven with seven points after five matches from which they registered two wins – identical 1-0 scorelines against Tsholotsho FC and Hwange, one draw and two defeats.

Bosso lost 0-2 away to ZPC Kariba on the opening day of the season with their second defeat coming on Sunday when they lost 0-1 to Chapungu.

That loss to Chapungu did not go down well with the Bosso supporters and after the game they expressed their anger by marching from Barbourfields Stadium to the Highlanders Clubhouse.

The supporters sang an emotional song calling on Mafu to heed their cry.

“Mafu, Mafu, yizwa mazwi ami — Mafu, Mafu, heed my words,” the fans sang.

Winning is proving elusive for Mafu who took over the reigns at the beginning of the year and as such fans are becoming impatient and things got worse when the Bulawayo giants lost to the then winless Chapungu.

Admitting that they didn’t come to party on Sunday, Mafu apologised and pleaded with the fans to be patient while he worked on his team’s shortcomings.

He said the supporters had every right to express their disappointment because they “didn’t play to expected Highlanders standards”.

Mafu, however, said even after the demonstrations he was not under pressure.

“I happen to lead a club with very passionate fans. I’m a very passionate coach and I come from this region. I don’t think the fans were fighting anyone but were just expressing their displeasure following the poor performance of the team on the day. They didn’t pelt anyone, they didn’t fight anyone they were just not happy,” he said.

“When fans aren’t happy, they’re expressing something that we as the coaching department have to go away and fix. I’m not under pressure, I’ve got a challenge to go and fix.”

Mafu happens to be the first Premiership coach to face supporters’ agitation this season.

Asked how much time he needed to fix the challenges, the Highlanders coach said he shall respond to the question during a press conference that Bosso will hold soon.

He said the press conferences to be held on weekly basis are meant to keep supporters abreast with developments at the club.

“Highlanders is a very big institution and I just want to protect the image of the team.

“What I’m basically saying is that I’m not refusing to answer your question but I’m saying that from now on I’d like to get my CEO — Ndumiso Gumede — to organise a day in the week preferably a Thursday or Friday when reporters are called for an official Press conference so that we address and answer questions from all reporters at the same time,” Mafu said.

Gumede said the weekly conferences will start next Thursday at the club offices.

Meanwhile, Gumede said Mafu had the full backing of the club’s leadership.

“While we understand the feelings of supporters who however should appreciate that the season is just starting, the leadership at Highlanders has confidence that the team is shaping up and will soon start winning.

“People must give support to the coach who is working tirelessly to make sure that the team gels quickly,” said Gumede.

“One day things will come right and we hope the same people who came to the Clubhouse last Sunday will then come in their numbers celebrating victories. Hopefully they will buy and finish all the beer at the Clubhouse.”