Innocent Kurira
HIGHLANDERS have been handed a timely lifeline off the pitch after Sakunda Holdings confirmed it will remain the club’s technical sponsor, easing a cloud of uncertainty that had started to creep into Bosso’s pre-season planning.
The confirmation comes just days before Highlanders’ annual general meeting set for Sunday at the Highlanders Clubhouse in Bulawayo, a gathering that has already built tension around the club’s direction, finances and the delayed appointment of a substantive head coach.
Senior club officials travelled to Harare recently for sponsor engagements as Highlanders tried to steady the ship ahead of the AGM.
Chairman Kenneth Mhlophe, Vice-chairman Fiso Siziba and chief executive Denzil Mnkandla were part of the delegation, with the club only acknowledging that meetings were held with sponsors.
Sakunda’s decision is not being framed as a brand new deal, but sources say it falls under a revised sponsorship package that is expected to look different from previous seasons. The finer details have not been made public yet, but inside the club there is relief that one of the biggest questions hanging over preparations has been answered.
A source close to the developments said the sponsor’s position has calmed nerves at a moment when Bosso can’t afford more instability.
“Sakunda have given their assurance that they will continue supporting the club, and that has helped clear a lot of uncertainty,” said the source.
Beyond kits and branding, the sponsorship carries real weight at Highlanders because it affects planning in the football department, budgets around travel and logistics, and the club’s ability to keep its technical programme intact before the season starts.
With the AGM looming, that clarity also strengthens the executive’s hand as members demand straight answers on what exactly is changing and what it means on the field.
The sponsorship news lands as Highlanders reshape their technical set-up, with South African coach Thabo Senong agreeing to come in as assistant coach to Benjani Mwaruwari.
Sources say the move is part of a wider restructuring designed to pull the club’s leadership and key stakeholders behind one technical plan after weeks of uncertainty and internal pressure.
Senong is also expected to bring in his preferred video analyst from South Africa, a signal that Highlanders want to modernise their backroom operations and add more structure to analysis and performance work.
The club has already begun the process of securing the necessary work permits for the new technical staff.
Senong is still waiting for his own work permit before he can officially start, and sources say the administrative work around the final composition of the technical team is still being completed. That delay means Highlanders are moving forward with plans, but not yet with the full team in place on the ground.
Another source said the club believes the remaining pieces will be settled soon, now that the sponsor position is no longer in doubt.
“The key issues are being addressed. Sakunda’s position is clear, and the technical team is aligning. Once the paperwork is done, everything should fall into place,” said the source.
For Highlanders, Sakunda staying on board won’t automatically solve the bigger football questions, but it gives the club breathing room going into Sunday’s AGM.
Members will still want the executive to explain what the revised package means in practical terms, what the targets are for the season, and whether the new technical structure is strong enough to match the expectations that come with being Bosso.
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