Lovemore Dube

Zimpapers Sports Hub

HIGHLANDERS stepped into new ground when they announced the appointment of Thabo Senong as head coach, with former youth international Mkhokheli Dube named as his assistant, a decision that immediately stitched the club into a fresh chapter of Zimbabwean football history.

Senong, a South African, becomes the first coach across the Limpopo River to land a job in Zimbabwe in 46 years. For decades, the traffic has largely flowed the other way, with Zimbabwean coaches and players marching to South Africa.

Bobby Chalmers, a former Rhodesia striker, set the tone with his move to Durban in 1963. Since then, dozens have followed, some of them exceptional.

This time, Highlanders have reversed the direction, and the response has been largely positive. There is belief the appointment could be the right spark for the club’s centenary celebrations and a reset that stretches beyond the first team into the junior ranks.

Senong arrives in Bulawayo with an impressive resume. He won the Cosafa Under 20 title with South Africa and took the same age group to two World Cup finals, an achievement few coaches anywhere in the world can claim.

Former Premiership player and respected development coach Dumaza Dube believes Senong’s strength lies in re-building from the base. He says the club needs time, but is confident results will follow.

“He brings in a wealth of experience in terms of rebuilding through the youth structures, which has been Highlanders’ philosophy throughout the years. Highlanders over the years has seemed to be losing their culture of passing entertaining build-up from the back game.

“I think, as a South African, he carries that philosophy in his DNA. It’s not going to be easy, but with time he will lead the team to the Promised Land. For the fact that he has gained a world view of experience as a coach, team building will be an easy process for him.

“My hope is for him to give a framework to youth development programmes at the club so as to build a reliable, resourceful youth development supply chain to the first team and overseas markets,” said Dube.

Dube adds that Senong’s exposure to a more commercial football environment could help Highlanders evolve beyond matchday entertainment and become active players in the football business space.

Former football commentator Sibongumusa Dlodlo, who has close to two decades of experience, also endorsed the appointment by the Kenneth Mhlophe executive.

“I think his profile seems to speak to the culture of Highlanders of developing their young talent. There will, however, be a collectively held direction by the entire club when it comes to the direction to be taken. If it’s building a squad, then all have to buy into that thrust.

“Failure to do that will lead to problems when others demand instant results. I think a focus on the club’s feeder system will be the best for long-term success. Mkhokheli Dube also fits into this billing. The call will be for the leadership to sell this direction to the members and ultimately the fans. Thereafter, stick to it no matter what,” said Dlodlo.

Zimbabwe Soccer Coaches Association official Bekhimpilo Nyoni urged caution, even as he pledged support. He warned that Senong steps into an environment where expectations are immediate and unforgiving.

“Highlanders have appointed the first South African coach who comes in with his only realisable achievement being taking South Africa Under 20 to the World Cup, he has been an assistant coach at a club in Tanzania, we cannot talk about any success with that club and the national team are quite different, it’s an experiment.

“People must support them in what they have done, Highlanders aim to win everything, we will allow them and we will support him, it’s not coming with a winning formula, taking into account wherever he has coached,” said Nyoni.

Football legend Chris Mhlanga struck a simpler note.

“He should be given a chance too to try and achieve something for the club,” said Mhlanga.

Beyond the optimism, the Highlanders board and executive carry a shared responsibility to strengthen the squad with players who bring fresh legs and hunger.

Senong arrives at a time when Melikhaya Ncube has just left, and another member of the captaincy, Andrew Mbeba, appears headed for the exit.

Shelton Moyo, Shepherd Mhlanga and Rainsome Pavari are expected to arrive from FC Platinum, if the clubs agree, to add steel to the side.

Bosso have also lost the Mushore brothers, while Mckinnon moved to Simba Bhora after Joel Luphahla, and young Mason joined AmaZulu, a deal that could help fund quality reinforcements.

The question now hangs in the air. Will South African flair triumph over Zimbabwe’s running football? Time will tell, and so will the patience of the Highlanders family.