For months, Highlanders dreamed that on Sunday November 26, they would be popping champagne on the podium celebrating league success.
And for those months that they dominated the Castle Lager Premier Soccer League, they really looked like they would end their 17-year wait.
The podium will be erected at Barboufields Stadium and the big trophy will decorate the stage only that it will be draped in Ngezi Platinum colours.
Highlanders, who for long were title favourites until they lost their way, will be forced to clap on for Ngezi Platinum Stars as they celebrate only their first title. For Bosso, it will be a hard watch and assistant coach Joel Luphahla has admitted so.
“I know it will be very difficult for the Highlanders’ fans because we are going to do a guard of honour to Ngezi,” Luphahla said.
“It is going to be very painful. I have spoken with the coach (Madinda Ndlovu) and we discussed how painful it would be but we have spoken to the players and said let’s not take that negatively but let it inspire us that we do well next season; let the pain be the inspiration.
“We had this in our hands but unfortunately, there is nobody to blame.” Highlanders went on a 19-match unbeaten run and were favourites to win the league. Bosso won only two times against Yadah and Herentals in their last 14 matches.
They lost seven times to FC Platinum, Chicken Inn, Dynamos, Hwange, Simba Bhora, Triangle and Manica Diamonds and played five draws.
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Their league title campaign stuttered and have since climbed down to position five on the table having spent the better part of the season at the top with Ngezi Platinum trailing them by seven points at one point.
Madamburo won the title with 63 points after beating Simba Bhora 2-1 at Baobab Stadium on November 11 and went on to beat relegated Cranborne Bullets.
They will represent the country in the Caf Champions League. Bosso also fell by the wayside in the Chibuku Super Cup.
Their only solace was winning the Independence Trophy when they beat Dynamos in a penalty shootout in April.
Coach Baltemar Brito missed the last two games in which Highlanders beat Herentals and lost to Manica Diamonds. He is also not available on Sunday. Brito’s contract is up at the end of next month and Highlanders have not engaged him for a renewal.
