Highlanders FC chief executive officer Denzel Mkandla has laid bare the brutal financial realities confronting traditional clubs in the Premier Soccer League (PSL), admitting that Bosso are being outmuscled in the transfer market by cash-rich rivals ahead of the new season.
“It’s a difficult market when you are competing with moneybags,” Mkandla said while addressing delegates at a PSL workshop held in Harare over the weekend.
His remarks come at a time when Highlanders are struggling to retain key players and attract quality reinforcements, largely due to the club’s well-documented financial constraints, which have left them vulnerable in an increasingly commercialised league.
The Bulawayo giants recently received a US$300 000 lifeline from controversial businessman Wicknell Chivayo, aimed at player recruitment and welfare ahead of the upcoming campaign.
However, the bailout came with conditions — most notably that former Warriors striker Benjamin Mwaruwaru be appointed as head coach.
In addition to the cash injection, Chivayo also donated a new team bus to the club, easing some of the logistical challenges that have plagued Bosso in recent seasons.
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Chivayo said his intervention was driven by a desire to support one of Zimbabwe’s “biggest and most historic” football clubs and to contribute to the growth of local football.
He stressed that the funds were intended to help Highlanders retain experienced players and attract quality signings capable of restoring the club’s competitiveness.
However, the donation has sharply divided opinion within football circles.
Critics have raised alarm over the growing influence of wealthy individuals in club affairs, warning that such interventions risk undermining established governance structures and decision-making processes.
Concerns have also been raised that financial bailouts, while providing short-term relief, fail to address deeper structural problems facing clubs.
Analysts argue that reliance on benefactors is not a substitute for sustainable commercial revenue streams, robust sponsorship deals, and sound financial management — elements seen as critical if clubs like Highlanders are to compete consistently in an era increasingly dominated by financial power.