HIGHLANDERS’ horrible performance in the Castle Lager Premier Soccer League (PSL) match against Caps United at the National Sports Stadium in Harare, raised a number of questions, but players say there are no problems at the club that are affecting their work.
SUKOLUHLE MTHETHWA/ THANDIWE MOYO
A lot has been said concerning the performance of the club in recent weeks with then head coach Kelvin Kaindu bearing the brunt of the accusations and eventually quitting while some circles targeted players.
Kaindu threw in the towel last week with supporters accusing him of failing the team. Assistant coach Mark Mathe took over and suffered a 0-4 humiliation by Caps United at the weekend in his first assignment as interim coach — Highlanders’ third loss in a row.
Critics have said current Highlanders players are not passionate enough while some say they are there for the money or a passage to other teams both locally and internationally. Supporters have questioned the commitment of players since some are reported to have been seen “partying” before or after crucial games.
There are reports of Highlanders players taking drugs and alcohol before and after matches, which has been linked to their poor showing on the field.
The Caps United match on Sunday was no different as Highlanders were a pale shadow of the championship-winning team of 1999 to 2002 and the steamrolling squad that won the PSL title in 2006 after picking up 27 points from their first 11 games under Methembe Ndlovu.
Highlanders are still rooted on fourth position and are now 10 points shy of log leaders Dynamos.
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Bosso have dropped nine points in their last three encounters falling to Harare City (0-1), ZPC Kariba (1-3) and the latest being the biggest loss of the season in the league.
Coincidentally, Bekithemba Ndlovu was criticised last year for losing 0-4 to Harare City which some believed led to his sacking. The Bosso hierarchy imposed Mathe and goalkeepers’ coach Peter Nkomo, sidelining Tembo Chuma.
All focus has been on the coaches and the drama that has surrounded the technical team leaving people who do most of the work unnoticed. 
Southern Eye spoke to some of the players who denied that there were problems within the club, but conceded that other players could be aligned to certain executive members and coaches.
Reports from the Bosso camp before Kaindu’s departure were that the Zambian and Mathe did not see eye to eye on some decisions leading to the team’s poor performance.
“Most of the stories that people are saying out there are not true. We are just going through a bad spell. Every team in the league goes through that. Some reports state that there are players who are aligned to a certain coach, but I have not seen that happening. We are trying our best, but it is not working. Kaindu worked well with Mathe and there was no rift between them,” said the player.
Another player echoed the same sentiments.
“Highlanders is a very big team and supporters don’t expect us to be defeated that way (Caps United match). In a way Kaindu’s departure could have affected the team because Mathe was under too much pressure. Some people are saying Kaindu left because of him. We have to accept the result and not point fingers because as players, we ask ourselves what is wrong as well,” the player said.
“Coaches have favourite players. There are certain players that Kaindu trusted while Mathe has his own. That is why there are so many stories when we lose. In the coming games we should be united so that if we do not win the league we could compete in the Mbada Diamonds Cup.”
Another player said: “We played well in the first 10 minutes, but I do not know what went wrong. We will keep on fighting. We are trying, but maybe it’s not our time because we had started the season very well. Naturally a coach will have his favourite players. You find that in many teams.”
