Opinion / Columnist
Bosso: It's all about the Benjamins
1 hr ago |
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Highlanders FC are reportedly set to appoint former Warriors captain and Manchester City striker Benjani Mwaruwari as head coach, with the club also said to be paying off South African coach Thabo Senong, who had initially been offered the job before sponsor Wicknell Chivayo came in with a reported $2 million package on condition Benjani takes charge.
First things first, massive respect to Benjani. The man played at the very highest level, Auxerre, Portsmouth, Manchester City, in elite football. That pedigree can never be questioned, and he will always be a legend in our game.
As a Bosso fan, though, I do have some reservations, not out of malice or disrespect, but purely from a footballing point of view. His previous stint at Ngezi Platinum Stars lasted just 13 matches, which is a very short sample size at the top-flight level.
From my observations as an armchair critic and on-the-ground football fan, coaching is indeed a different ball game (excuse the pun). We've seen it time and again, even with top players. Frank Lampard at Chelsea, Paul Ince in management, great footballers, but the transition to the dugout hasn't always been smooth. Playing the game and managing it are two very different skill sets, and not everyone gets it right the first time.
That said, I'm not writing him off. Far from it. He's just graduated with a Diploma in Professional Soccer Coaching in Liverpool after two years of study, and he even spent time attached to Plymouth Argyle's junior structures, so he's clearly putting in the work to learn the craft properly.
I also understand the predicament Highlanders find themselves in. With reports suggesting the club is around US$500,000 in debt, batting away a $2 million sponsorship offer is never going to be easy.
In that context, the decision becomes as much about survival as it is about football.
My only feeling is that maybe a longer run in the lower divisions would help him build experience and confidence before taking on a giant like Highlanders.
But football has a funny way of proving people wrong, and honestly, I would be delighted if Benjani shuts up doubters like me by the end of the 2026 season.
This is just an honest fan opinion. I want him to succeed, for his sake and for Bosso's. Time will tell.
First things first, massive respect to Benjani. The man played at the very highest level, Auxerre, Portsmouth, Manchester City, in elite football. That pedigree can never be questioned, and he will always be a legend in our game.
As a Bosso fan, though, I do have some reservations, not out of malice or disrespect, but purely from a footballing point of view. His previous stint at Ngezi Platinum Stars lasted just 13 matches, which is a very short sample size at the top-flight level.
From my observations as an armchair critic and on-the-ground football fan, coaching is indeed a different ball game (excuse the pun). We've seen it time and again, even with top players. Frank Lampard at Chelsea, Paul Ince in management, great footballers, but the transition to the dugout hasn't always been smooth. Playing the game and managing it are two very different skill sets, and not everyone gets it right the first time.
That said, I'm not writing him off. Far from it. He's just graduated with a Diploma in Professional Soccer Coaching in Liverpool after two years of study, and he even spent time attached to Plymouth Argyle's junior structures, so he's clearly putting in the work to learn the craft properly.
I also understand the predicament Highlanders find themselves in. With reports suggesting the club is around US$500,000 in debt, batting away a $2 million sponsorship offer is never going to be easy.
In that context, the decision becomes as much about survival as it is about football.
My only feeling is that maybe a longer run in the lower divisions would help him build experience and confidence before taking on a giant like Highlanders.
But football has a funny way of proving people wrong, and honestly, I would be delighted if Benjani shuts up doubters like me by the end of the 2026 season.
This is just an honest fan opinion. I want him to succeed, for his sake and for Bosso's. Time will tell.
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