Bosso yet to appoint new coach despite Chivayo's offer to Mwaruwari

Highlanders Football Club has confirmed that it has not yet engaged a new head coach following the departure of Dutch tactician Hendrik Pieter de Jongh, whose contract is set to expire on December 31.

"The position of the club is that we don't have a coach right now," Highlanders chief executive officer Denzel Mkandla said, emphasizing that no formal appointment has been made.

The uncertainty comes amid reports that club benefactor Wicknell Chivayo has offered to personally cover the salary and contractual benefits of former Zimbabwe international Benjani Mwaruwari if the club considers him for the top job. Chivayo revealed in a social media post that he had held discussions with Mwaruwari, who expressed interest in the position provided his contractual conditions were guaranteed.

"I was deeply humbled by such a condition, which I also considered fair and reasonable for a football icon of his stature," Chivayo wrote on Facebook. "Through my curator, I proposed that, subject to Highlanders FC governance structures, they consider appointing him through their formal internal processes."

Chivayo clarified that the proposed arrangement with Mwaruwari would be separate from the US$1 million sponsorship package he pledged to the club, which remains available for strengthening the squad for the 2026 Premier League season. "If the club opts for a different coach, the sponsorship package remains in place for the benefit of the team, but the additional conditions will not apply," he added.

Mwaruwari is currently involved with Plymouth Argyle's development sides in the United Kingdom, and it remains unclear whether Highlanders will move to formalize the offer.

The Bosso faithful are now left waiting to see whether the club will tap the services of one of Zimbabwe's football icons or explore other options ahead of the new season.