Mwaruwari declares Bosso ready

Highlanders FC are concluding their six-day preseason tour of Botswana as they prepare for the 2026 Castle Lager Premiership, which promises an exciting season.

The season will kick off for Highlanders under new coach Benjani Mwaruwari at Barbourfields Stadium on Sunday with a high-stakes city derby against Bulawayo Chiefs.

Mwaruwari, who joined the club a month ago, has been working closely with the players, assisted by club legend Mkhokheli Dube, and recently added another celebrated Bosso hero, Bekithemba Ndlovu, to the technical team.

The technical staff also includes Malvern Moyo as goalkeepers' trainer, Majaha Ndlovu overseeing fitness, and club legend Zenzo Moyo as team manager. Malvern, a former Highlanders goalkeeper, left the club in 2000.

Speaking from Gaborone ahead of an evening friendly against Gaborone United, Mwaruwari expressed satisfaction with the squad's progress.

"From the look of things I cannot complain, we have worked hard to be in a position where I can safely say we are ready for the challenge ahead. We will work with the players we have and hope for better results," said Mwaruwari.

He praised the players' attitude and bonding during the camp. "They have been absolutely fantastic, they have shown us that Highlanders is the club that they want to be at. We are happy with the positive response, and they seem to have enjoyed the camp here and built bonds, which was one of the aspects key to our preparations for the season," he added.

On the upcoming Bulawayo derby, Mwaruwari described the match as crucial. "Derbies are always self-motivating. The outcome of the match will be crucial, I hope the positive results fall to us as a reward to this happy lot that we have been working with," said the former Warriors captain.

The coach confirmed that 32 players were taken to Botswana for assessment, with 25 expected to make the final squad. While he did not disclose all signings, he noted that the group included a left back from Harare, a player from Ghana, two Bosso90 talents, and another local player from Bulawayo being evaluated.

Highlanders return to Barbourfields on a high, buoyed by their 1-0 win over Dynamos FC earlier in preseason, giving fans optimism about Mwaruwari's project taking shape.