Bosso told to improve player quality

As Highlanders FC embarks on yet another season with hopes of ending their 18-year wait for a league title, former two-time league champion Noah Muvindi has stressed that the key to success lies in improving the quality of players in the squad.

Muvindi, who was part of the Bosso team that dominated local football in the early 2000s with back-to-back Premiership championships in 2001 and 2002, believes that the team's struggles over the years have been due to a lack of depth and quality in the squad.

"Let's be honest, Bosso have not had the quality players needed to compete for the league title," Muvindi said, reflecting on the club's current challenges. "When you look at the starting 11 and then the bench, there is a clear lack of depth that can win you a league title. In our time, we had two quality players battling for each position. For example, I had Gift Lunga (Jnr) as my competition for the left-back position, and sometimes the coach would have a headache on who should start, asking us to agree on who would take the spot. That kind of competition doesn't exist in the squad now."

Muvindi, who now watches local football from the sidelines, argues that a strong and balanced squad is critical for winning the league, a balance that Bosso has been missing in recent years. With their rich history and loyal fan base, he believes that the team has the potential to reclaim its former glory but only if they can attract and retain top talent.

"Bosso needs to attract and retain top talent if they want to compete with the best teams in the league," Muvindi said. "In our days, we had a squad full of quality players, and we had depth. That is what the team is lacking now."
The Impact of Player Exodus

Muvindi also pointed to a crucial turning point in the club's fortunes – the exodus of key players in the early 2000s, which significantly disrupted their dominance in the league and their campaign in the CAF Champions League. Notably, Bosso lost the likes of Adam Ndlovu and Stewart Murisa to South African clubs in 2003, followed by the departures of Dazzy Kapenya, Thabani Masawi, Siza Khoza, Charles Chilufya, Blessing Gumiso, and Muvindi himself. These losses, according to Muvindi, marked the beginning of Highlanders' decline in the years that followed.
Key Players Set to Leave Ahead of 2024 Season

Now, with the 2024 season on the horizon, Highlanders face a fresh challenge as they are set to lose several key players to newly-promoted Scottland FC. Captain Peter Muduhwa, Godfrey Makaruse, Lynoth Chikuhwa, and Marvelous Chigumira are reportedly bound for the newly-promoted side, leaving Bosso with a significant task of finding suitable replacements.

This development comes at a time when Highlanders had shown signs of improvement, especially in attack. The team scored 43 goals in the 2024 season, the third-highest tally in the league, with Chikuhwa winning the Golden Boot award after scoring 17 goals. However, their defensive frailties have been a major concern, with Highlanders finishing the season with the 11th-best defence in the league.

The loss of key players is expected to exacerbate this problem, and the club will need to act quickly in the transfer market to reinforce their squad, particularly in defence. The Highlanders leadership has already committed to strengthening the squad ahead of the new campaign.

As Bosso fans continue to hope for a return to the top of Zimbabwean football, the need for investment in quality players has never been more evident. With the right reinforcements, the Bulawayo giants could once again challenge for the coveted league title and restore their position as one of the country's football powerhouses.