Highlanders F.C.
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| Full name | Highlanders Football Club | ||
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| Nickname(s) | Siyinqaba (We are a fortress), Bosso, Bossolona, Mantengwane, Tshilamoya, Ithimu yezwe lonke, HighLanga | ||
| Founded | 1926 | ||
| Ground | Barbourfields Stadium Bulawayo, Zimbabwe |
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| Capacity | 40,000 | ||
| Chairman | Peter Dube | ||
| Coach | Amini Soma Phiri | ||
| League | Zimbabwe Premier Soccer League (ZPSL) |
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| 2015 | 6th | ||
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Highlanders FC is a Zimbabwean football club based in Bulawayo, Zimbabwe, formed in 1926 that plays in the Zimbabwe Premier Soccer League.It is one of the biggest soccer teams in Zimbabwe and arguably the most supported team. Everywhere it plays it attracts big crowds.
Contents
Nicknames
Highlanders are known by their nicknames,Bosso,Tshilamoya,Amahlolanyama,Ezikamagebhula,Mantengwane among many others.Bosso is derived from Setswana slang and means "The Boss."Tshilamoya is IsiNdebele and,loosely interpreted,could mean "big-upsetters" or "demoralisers" a term coined in apparent reference to the Team's nemesis.Amahlolanya is taken from the African pied wagtail,a bird found mostly in Southern parts of Zimbabwe whose black and white colours resemble those of the team's.EzikaMagebhula,a nickname for Orlando Pirates FC,can also be used in reference to Highlanders FC possible because of the similarity of both clubs' colours.
Club Motto
"Siyinqaba!" - "We are a Fortress!"
History
19th century- Colonialists decided to placate the Ndebele King Lobengula with a proposal to send his grand sons to study in the Cape Province in South Africa. The names of the two grandsons were Albert and Rhodes who were sons of Njube. 1926 – The two brothers returned from South Africa where Albert had completed studies in agriculture at Tsolo Agricultural School and Rhodes completed studies in book-keeping at Lovedale Institute. Both had taken to football as extra mural activities. Rhodes continued playing soccer and formed a team called the Lions Football Club, composed mainly of boys born in Makokoba (Bulawayo's oldest township).
1936 – the players changed the name to Matebeleland Highlanders Football Club.
1966 – the Rhodesia National Football League (RNFL) asked Highlanders to join them. The agreed and two years later was drafted into the 2nd Division. Highlanders finished top on their first year and were promoted to Division One.
1970 – the team was in the Super League, but after collecting just 7 points, they were relegated back to the First Division but were back in the top flight again a year later in 1971.
1972 – a British export joined the side, Tony McIlveen, from Northern Ireland. Tony had previous experience playing semi-professionally for Irish League side Crusaders, and whilst not known for his height, his tenacity as a midfield dynamo was an added bonus to the vastly improving side.
1973 – Highlanders FC won the Chibuku Trophy, beating high profile Mangula at Rufaro Stadium. Players who clinched the honours included Ananias Dube, Billy Sibanda, Kenny Ngulube, Edward Dzowa, Andrew Jele, Tommy Masuku, Lawrence Phiri, Josiah Nxumalo, Geoffrey Mpofu, Boet Van As, Tymon Mabaleka, Gavin Dubely, Bruce Grobbelaar, Barry Daka, Tony McIlveen and others.
1976 – Highlanders got dissatisfied with the national administration led by Mr. John Madzima and pulled out of the RNFL and formed the South Zone Soccer League (SZSL). Some disgruntled senior members of the team broke away from Highlanders to form their own club, Olympics. They even took the Black&White strip. But highlanders survived. The teams that formed the nucleus of the SZSL were Black Chiefs, Callies, Portuguese, Old Miltonians and Highlanders (all from Byo.), Black Horrors (Plumtree), Ramblers (Gwanda), and Go Beer Rovers (Gwelo).
1979 – most Harare-based clubs saw the wisdom of Highlanders' decision and lent their support to the club against the injusticies of the national association, i.e. unfair gate takings distribution, improper methods of accounting of finances, and that certain teams were being favoured. The National Professional Soccer League (NPSL) was then formed as a result.
1980 – NPSL and the RNFL were merged to form Zimbabwe Football Association (ZIFA).
1986 – a group of senior players left after falling out with the executive over money. Apprentices were upgraded to the senior team. Players who included the likes of Rahman Gumbo, Mercedes Sibanda, Willard "Nduuuna" Mashinkila-Khumalo, Madinda Ndlovu, Dumisani Ngulube and many others. In Zimbabwe players from Highlanders who have played at the highest level of professional football in the world include players like Peter Ndlovu, Bruce Grobelaar and Benjani Mwaruwari.
Highlanders is the second most supported club in Zimbabwe with over 5 million supporters after Dynamos who have over 7 million supporters.The support for these two clubs emanates from tribal grounds were Highlanders are supported by both Ndebele speaking people and those origination in the Matebeleland areads of the country whilst Dynamos is supported by the Majority Shona speaking people.
Rivalry
Highlanders most bitter rival is Dynamos from Harare and the matches between these two giants have been dubbed "Battle of Zimbabwe".The battles between Bosso and Dembare are similar to those ones between the two Soweto Giants Orlando Pirates and Kaizer Chiefs in South Africa in the Soweto derby.CAPS United is also another Bosso's rival and the matches pitting these two teams have been dubbed "Battle of the Cities".These matches were in the past associated with a lot of violent clashes amongst the fans.
Honours
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- 1958, 1975(Then Rhodesia National Soccer League), 1990, 1993, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2006
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- 1990, 2001
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- 1986, 1988, 1991, 2001, 2002, 2011
- Zimbabwean Charity Shield: 3
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- 2001, 2005, 2015 (ZNA Charity Shield)
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- 1973, 1980,1984,1986,1989
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- 2013
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- 2015
Performance in CAF competitions
- CAF Champions League: 5 appearances
- African Cup of Champions Clubs: 2 appearances
- CAF Confederation Cup: 2 appearances
- CAF Cup Winners' Cup: 3 appearances
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- 1986 – First Round
- 1987 – First Round
- 1992 – First Round
Current squad 2014
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
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Staff
Chairman
Vice Chairman
Club Secretary
Treasurer
Committee Member
Head Coach
Assistant Coach
Goalkeeper's Coach
Team Manager
Team Doctor
Team Physiotherapist
Notable former coaches
Rahman Gumbo- Barry Daka
- Cosmas Zulu
Eddie May (2001–03)- Methembe Ndlovu (2006–07)
- Madinda Ndlovu (2009)
Dick Chama- Kelvin Kaindu
- Bongani Mafu (2015–)
References
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Doughty Sithole played for highlanders – 1976 to 1980 Daved sibanda Augstine Lunga Majuta Mpofu Phenious Mabalrka Tenson Moloi motgan Phiri Thuthani Moyo Yona malunga Tobias Mudlambanje nqobizitha mayedzanise rone jowa
Must include Douglas "British Never Surrender" "Sa No" Mloyi. One of the greatest defenders Highlanders has produced.
Mention must also be made of Ndumiso Gumede, the former chairman of the club who contributed a lot to the club for many years.
Also one of the greatest Managers of Highlanders was none other than Lawerence Phiri.
