Juju beliefs part of Highlanders' woes

Amidst a host of Highlanders Football Club's problems which all sectors are still battling to dissect is the issue of the use of juju by the team.

Information made available to Bulawayo24 by very reliable sources within the team's dressing room and offices is that the team has for a while been torn apart on the use of juju to win games. The information indicates that a section of the players led by one member of the technical team and some in the executive believed in the use of the African science to win games while another also led by a member of the technical team believed in trusting God to win games.

According to the sources the divisions in the camp have led to some players taking home with them their uniform set and refusing to let it go with the kit manager as the kit would be subjected to juju treatment. The sources were actually able to produce a complete Highlanders first team kit used over the weekend and refused to have it photographed for their safety.

The sources claim that this has been prevalent in the team for a better part of the current season leading to distrust and disharmony in the team.

"The bottom line of the problems at Highlanders is the use of juju. It has divided us so badly that we now can no longer play well together. We have a section of our bosses both coaching and executive insisting on the use of juju while others are refusing which is leading to divisions in the team and affecting team selection," said the source.

"Trust me one day soon someone will be quitting the team and a lot of revelations will be made for the public to know."

The sources also revealed that even the members of the executive and technical team who believed in juju were seriously divided on which African scientist to consult. The sources claim that the executive dumped one consultant for another in leaving the earlier very angry with the team's move and promising them that they will be confusion in the team leading to their dismissal.

Asked on what their views were on the call by some fans and officials for coach Kelvin Kaindu to leave the team, the sources claimed that it would be a huge mistake for the club to let Kaindu go as he was a good coach but was not being given enough room to do his work because of interference from other senior people in the team. The sources claim that there are three senior officials in the club who are always back biting coach Kaindu amongst the players trying to get the players to stand against the coach.

"Kaindu has done his best, he is a very good coach and motivates players very well but is always let down by A, B and C who always interfere with his job, frustrate him and end up disturbing harmony in the team," said the source.

"I have been in football for a very long time and have been with a number of different clubs the issue of juju or no juju is not new to me. What simply needs to be done is that the club decides on one form to be used which everyone must agree to and not to leave everyone doing as they will as this divides the team."

The sources threw away the accusation by fans that the players lacked a cultural identity with the team which may be causing the players not to fully commit to the club.

"Footballers these days are professional players and football is their life. There is winning bonuses at stake and scouts to pick up the good players so really there are no chances that players can deliberately under perform to sabotage the team."

On the tribal utterances to the players by the fans, the sources claimed some of the players are affected by the utterances especially the new ones but the older ones are no longer deterred.

"The longer you stay at Highlanders the more you begin to understand the nature of Bosso supporters. Make a mistake you are reminded that you are a Shona and when you score they forget to remind you that you are a Shona we now know the trend and just have to get on with it," said one source a player.

"We really wish that the supporters could change the tribalism utterances and allow people to play football because Highlanders is a big club and can only grow bigger and everyone wants to be associated with Bosso out love and dedication."

On the way forward for the club, the sources said that the team needed to come together and sort out the factions in the team and give the team a chance to prove its worth on the field of play.

"What the team needs urgently is to unite and clear the factions in the team especially administration and let the coach do his work we can still win games and come back to contention for the league title."