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Ricky Zililo, Senior Sports Reporter

HIGHLANDERS Football Club’s head coach Baltemar Brito will miss his team’s 2023 Castle Lager Premier Soccer League’s season opening match against ZPC Kariba as he is traveling to Portugal for a refresher course.

Bosso, who will be starting the PSL campaign without playing a preseason competitive match before their fans at either Barbourfields Stadium or Luveve Stadium due to the unavailability of the two venues before the start of the season, will be hoping to start on a positive note when they host ZPCC Kariba without Brito.

The 71-year-old Brito, a Uefa Pro Coaching licence holder with vast experience, having worked as Jose Mourinho’s assistant coach at FC Porto in Portugal, Chelsea in England and Inter Milan in Italy, leaves the country today.

The Uefa Pro badge is the highest world-recognised qualification in football that enables one to coach anywhere in the world and is valid for three years, meaning one has to renew it in order to continue carrying out their coaching duties.

Nozibelo Maphosa, the Highlanders communications and marketing officer confirmed Brito’s unavailability for the opening match of the season.

She added that they will be officially unveiling their 2023 technical team and players during the week.

“Coach Brito is leaving this week to regularise his Uefa Pro in Portugal.

“We will be announcing our 2023 technical staff before the start of our 2023 season,” said Maphosa.

In the absence of Brito, club legend Madinda Ndlovu, who was recently engaged as the first team assistant coach and head of junior development, will bark instructions from the bench.

Bosso, who last season had Brito casting a lone figure at the technical area after Joel Luphahla and Antonio Torres were prohibited from the bench as Zifa implemented club licensing which requires PSL coaches and assistant gaffer to be Caf A licence holders, averted a disaster of failing to have a coach giving out instructions in the absence of Brito by engaging Ndlovu.

Sources have revealed that Highlanders are making plans of to ensure both Luphahla and Torres sit on the bench with reassigned titles. They might have one of the duo registered as a kit manager while the other takes up a physical trainer’s role to assist Abraham Mbaiwa.

On the team news, Bulawayo based Highlanders followers who failed to travel to Gweru for the preseason match against Premiership newboys Sheasham FC, Beitbridge for the games against
Dulivhadzimu United and Plumtree for a date with Mainline FC, will see their team for the first time on Sunday.

Former Chicken inn and Bulawayo Chiefs 29-year-old defensive midfielder Brighton Manhire, ex-TelOne right back Marvelous Chigumira (24) and Elshamar Farasi, formerly with Bulawayo City have been training with Highlanders hoping to make the grade.

Bosso have so far signed striker Calvin Chigonero on loan from Talen Vision, recalled goalkeeper Reward Muza who was with Bulawayo City, promoted Gillian Nyathi from Bosso90 and signed Bulawayo City captain Melikhaya Ncube.

Maphosa declared Bosso ready for the season.

“The team has been preparing extensively for its coming season, we have also had friendlies to give the team a feel of the game before the beginning of the season and we have also brought in Madinda Ndlovu to beef up the technical staff,” Maphosa said.

Last season, Highlanders recovered from a disastrous start to finish fifth on the log, beaten to fourth position by Ngezi Platinum Stars. — @ZililoR