Highlanders F.C.

Highlanders FC
Full name	Highlanders Football Club
Nickname(s)	Siyinqaba (We are a fortress), Bosso, Bossolona, Mantengwane, Tshilamoya, Ithimu yezwe lonke
Founded	1926
Ground	Barbourfields Stadium; Bulawayo, Zimbabwe; (Capacity: 26,000)
Chairman	Peter Dube
Coach	[Kevin Kaindu]]
League	Zimbabwe Premier Soccer League; (ZPSL)
2011	7th
Home colours	Away colours

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Highlanders FC is a Zimbabwean football club based in Bulawayo, Zimbabwe, formed in 1926. It is arguably the best supported and most successful team in the Zimbabwe Premier Soccer League with a following found in all corners of the country and the world at large.^{[citation needed]}

[edit] 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 club 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, Jeffrey Mpofu, Boet Van As, Tymon Mabaleka, Gavin Dubely, Bruce Grobelaar, 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.

[edit] 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".

[edit] Honours

Zimbabwe Premier Soccer League: 8

1975(Then Rhodesia National Soccer League), 1990, 1993, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2006

Zimbabwean Cup: 2

1990, 2001

Zimbabwean Independence Trophy: 6

1986, 1988, 1991, 2001, 2002, 2011

Zimbabwean Charity Shield: 2

2001, 2005

[edit] Performance in CAF competitions

CAF Champions League: 5 appearances

2000 - Second Round

2001 - First Round

2002 - First Round

2003 - Second Round

2007 - First Round

African Cup of Champions Clubs: 2 appearances

1991 - Second Round

1994 - disqualified in First Round

CAF Confederation Cup: 2 appearances

2008 - Round of 16

2011 - withdrew in Preliminary Round

CAF Cup Winners' Cup: 3 appearances

1986 - First Round

1987 - First Round

1992 - First Round

[edit] Current squad

Note: Flags indicate national team as has been defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No.	Position	Player
1	GK	Ariel Sibanda
2	DF	Gilbert Banda
3	DF	Gaby Steindin Leichestein
4	MF	Douglas Zimbago
5	FW	Farai Mujokoro
6	FW	Njabulo Ncube
7	FW	Wellington Sibanda
8	FW	Thabani Moyo
9	MF	Louis Matawu
10	FW	Maxwell Mburayi
11	DF	Lawson Nkomo
16	DF	Innocent Mapuranga
21	GK	Lovemore Makwavarara
22	GK	Wonderful Peperere
23	FW	Vincent Nzombe
-	DF	Gift Lunga

No.	Position	Player
-	MF	Bhekithemba Ndlovu
-	MF	Arnold Tshuma
-	MF	Eric Mudzingwa
-	MF	Marshall Machazane
-	MF	Peter Makuvise
-	MF	Jacob Muzokomba
-	MF	Gift Lunga Jnr.
-	FW	Nqobile Mpala
-	FW	Mandla Nkomo
-	FW	Lincoln Siwela
-	FW	Nhlanhla Ncube
-	FW	Protash Kabwe
-	FW	Guide Goddard
-	FW	Cuthbert Malajila
-	FW	Lawson Nkomo