HARARE, Apr. 20 (NewsDay Live) - Highlanders FC’s milestone centenary season descended into chaos on Monday as players went on strike over unpaid salaries and bonuses, just 48 hours before the high-stakes Bulawayo derby against Chicken Inn.
The industrial action has paralysed preparations for Wednesday’s clash, with the squad refusing to train despite the looming fixture. The Bulawayo giants have endured a dismal start to the 2026 campaign, failing to record a single win in their opening seven matches.
Players arrived at their White City Stadium training base Monday morning but refused to take to the pitch, citing two months of outstanding salary arrears.
By the end of the day, no club officials had met with the disgruntled squad, fueling expectations that the sit-out will extend into Tuesday.
The timing is catastrophic for the oldest club in Zimbabwe, as a derby against city rivals Chicken Inn typically demands peak physical and mental focus—both of which have been shattered by the financial impasse.
The strike has exposed deep fractures in the club’s complex funding structure. While Sakunda Holdings is tasked with player remunerations, funds have reportedly failed to reach accounts.
The crisis extends to the technical bench, where head coach Benjani Mwaruwari is also said to be owed back-pay. In a unique arrangement, Mwaruwari’s salary is underwritten by benefactor Wicknell Chivayo, separate from the club’s primary sponsorship, yet even this high-profile commitment has failed to insulate the coach from the current drought.
The labor dispute compounds a historically stagnant run of form. Bosso currently languishes in 12th place in the 18-team league, burdened by an unprecedented streak of seven consecutive draws.
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The statistical deadlock reflects a lack of clinical finishing that has plagued the team all season. With seven matches played, the record stands at zero wins, seven draws, and zero losses, yielding just seven points and a meager three goals scored.
Perhaps the most stinging aspect of the crisis is its timing. 2026 marks Highlanders’ 100th anniversary, a year intended for grand celebrations of heritage and triumph. Instead, the centenary spirit has been eclipsed by financial instability and empty training pitches.
If the executive fails to break the deadlock by Tuesday morning, the Bulawayo on Wednesday risks becoming a historic embarrassment for a club meant to be celebrating a century of greatness.
