BULAWAYO, Aug. 15 (NewsDay Live) — Highlanders have moved to quell fears of a full-blown crisis at the club, insisting head coach Benjani Mwaruwari remains firmly in charge despite reports that he had quit amid another player training boycott over unpaid dues.
The latest turmoil has cast a shadow over Bosso’s preparations for tomorrow’s Chibuku Super Cup first-round showdown against city rivals Chicken Inn at Barbourfields Stadium, with players reportedly refusing to train for almost a week despite turning up at training venues.
Reports also emerged yesterday that Mwaruwari had walked away from the club, with his apparent absence from training fuelling speculation that the former Warriors captain had resigned.
However, acting chairman and interim chief executive officer Kindman Ndlovu dismissed the reports as social media speculation, saying Mwaruwari remained at work and was preparing the team for the derby.
“As far as we are concerned, the coach is at work. I spoke to him yesterday (Friday) and he said he is also surprised with the reports that he has resigned,” Ndlovu said.
“Of course, there are challenges. The players were refusing to train. This information about the coach quitting is false information spreading on social media platforms.
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“Everyone has become a journalist and not anyone spreading these falsehoods has spoken to the club nor to the coach. We seem to have everything under control. We are seized with preparing for the game tomorrow and everybody is on board now.”
Ndlovu’s assurances, however, come against the backdrop of a season in which industrial action has become an increasingly familiar feature at one of Zimbabwe’s biggest football clubs.
The repeated training boycotts have gone beyond being an inconvenience ahead of individual matches, pointing instead to deeper financial and administrative problems at Bosso.
Players have repeatedly resorted to industrial action to highlight grievances over unpaid dues that would ordinarily be resolved through normal employer-employee channels.
The latest dispute has erupted on the eve of a high-profile knockout match against Chicken Inn, adding further pressure on Mwaruwari and the club’s leadership.
The Chibuku Super Cup offers Bosso an opportunity to salvage some pride from a turbulent campaign, but cup football demands adequate preparation, something the club has struggled to achieve amid the latest player unrest.