{"id":1762,"date":"2026-01-26T18:55:28","date_gmt":"2026-01-26T18:55:28","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/matabeletoday.com\/?p=1762"},"modified":"2026-01-26T18:55:30","modified_gmt":"2026-01-26T18:55:30","slug":"highlanders-caught-in-a-cash-trap","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/matabeletoday.com\/?p=1762","title":{"rendered":"Highlanders caught in a cash trap"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

by MELUSI MHLANGA<\/em>
BULAWAYO – HARARE businessman Wicknell Chivayo has ignited a fierce national debate after publicly celebrating Highlanders Football Club\u2019s appointment of Benjani Mwaruwari as head coach for the 2026 Premier Soccer League (PSL) season.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

While Chivayo framed his intervention as patriotic support, critics argue it represents dangerous interference in football governance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Taking to social media platform X (formerly Twitter) on Sunday, Chivayo expressed delight at what he described as Highlanders\u2019 decision to engage Mwaruwari.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe expertise and pedigree of Mkoma Benji speaks for itself,\u201d he wrote, citing the former striker\u2019s regional exposure in South Africa and experience in European leagues.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Chivayo added that it was \u201chigh time we relied on our own football experts,\u201d congratulating the club, its technical management and Mwaruwari on what he called a \u201cwell-deserved appointment.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Chivayo further announced a $300,000 donation to Highlanders, intended to cover player signings, the new coach\u2019s salary, settlement of outstanding arrears and squad strengthening.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He also pledged to purchase a car of the coach\u2019s choice and deliver a new 75-seater luxury team bus, fitted with executive amenities, for away matches from Barbourfields Stadium.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

According to Chivayo, the support was meant to boost morale across management, technical staff and players.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, the announcement triggered intense backlash from football supporters, analysts and public figures. Critics argue the issue is not generosity, but control.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Chivayo is known to financially support another club competing in the same league, raising fears of conflict of interest and compromised sporting integrity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Former Member of Parliament Fadzayi Mahere sharply questioned the arrangement.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAre you (Highlanders executives) thankful that you can\u2019t even choose your own coach anymore?\u201d she asked.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWho controls \u2018your\u2019 coach when said coach was selected by someone else who is also affiliated to a rival club? Does he have a contract with the club or his paymaster? What could possibly go wrong?\u201d Mahere concluded by calling for \u201cnew leaders.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Football commentator Langa Sibbs echoed similar concerns, accusing Chivayo of using financial leverage to impose authority.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cYou\u2019ve imposed Benji onto Bosso by dangling an obvious dollar carrot to our greedy executive (Highlanders),\u201d he said, warning that such power dynamics undermine club independence.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Civil society group One Grainful Trust went further, stating: \u201cCapturing everything and spreading cancer everywhere. They will kill traditional football very soon.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Beyond Highlanders, the controversy highlights a broader danger in African football: sponsor-imposed coaches.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When a financier dictates technical appointments\u2014especially while backing a rival club\u2014it erodes trust, distorts competition and risks match manipulation, divided loyalties and dressing-room instability.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Coaches may feel accountable to benefactors rather than clubs, while players and fans lose faith in fair play.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Football thrives on autonomy, transparency and competitive balance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When money overrides governance, clubs risk becoming extensions of private interests rather than community institutions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Highlanders\u2019 situation is a warning that financial support, without clear boundaries, can cost far more than it gives.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

by MELUSI MHLANGABULAWAYO – HARARE businessman Wicknell Chivayo has ignited a fierce national debate after publicly celebrating Highlanders Football Club\u2019s appointment of Benjani Mwaruwari as head coach for the 2026 Premier Soccer League (PSL) season. While Chivayo framed his intervention as patriotic support, critics argue it represents dangerous interference in football governance. Taking to social […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":1763,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[5,110,19,13],"tags":[335],"class_list":["post-1762","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-featured","category-football-sports","category-football","category-sports","tag-highlanders-officials-welcome-new-head-coach-benjani"],"magazineBlocksPostFeaturedMedia":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/matabeletoday.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Highlanders-welcomes-Benjani-Mwariwaru-1-150x150.jpg","medium":"https:\/\/matabeletoday.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Highlanders-welcomes-Benjani-Mwariwaru-1-300x182.jpg","medium_large":"https:\/\/matabeletoday.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Highlanders-welcomes-Benjani-Mwariwaru-1-768x466.jpg","large":"https:\/\/matabeletoday.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Highlanders-welcomes-Benjani-Mwariwaru-1-1024x622.jpg","1536x1536":"https:\/\/matabeletoday.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Highlanders-welcomes-Benjani-Mwariwaru-1.jpg","2048x2048":"https:\/\/matabeletoday.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Highlanders-welcomes-Benjani-Mwariwaru-1.jpg","post-thumbnail":"https:\/\/matabeletoday.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Highlanders-welcomes-Benjani-Mwariwaru-1.jpg"},"magazineBlocksPostAuthor":{"name":"administrator","avatar":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/a3d5ebfe727f13fb325bd400aaaf5e789d3e2e20898883d9ae8e3d3d42d58cef?s=96&d=mm&r=g"},"magazineBlocksPostCommentsNumber":"0","magazineBlocksPostExcerpt":"by MELUSI MHLANGABULAWAYO – HARARE businessman Wicknell Chivayo has ignited a fierce national debate after publicly celebrating Highlanders Football Club\u2019s appointment of Benjani Mwaruwari as head coach for the 2026 Premier Soccer League (PSL) season. While Chivayo framed his intervention as patriotic support, critics argue it represents dangerous interference in football governance. Taking to social […]","magazineBlocksPostCategories":["Featured","Football","Football","Sports"],"magazineBlocksPostViewCount":46,"magazineBlocksPostReadTime":3,"magazine_blocks_featured_image_url":{"full":["https:\/\/matabeletoday.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Highlanders-welcomes-Benjani-Mwariwaru-1.jpg",1080,656,false],"medium":["https:\/\/matabeletoday.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Highlanders-welcomes-Benjani-Mwariwaru-1-300x182.jpg",300,182,true],"thumbnail":["https:\/\/matabeletoday.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Highlanders-welcomes-Benjani-Mwariwaru-1-150x150.jpg",150,150,true]},"magazine_blocks_author":{"display_name":"administrator","author_link":"https:\/\/matabeletoday.com\/?author=2"},"magazine_blocks_comment":0,"magazine_blocks_author_image":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/a3d5ebfe727f13fb325bd400aaaf5e789d3e2e20898883d9ae8e3d3d42d58cef?s=96&d=mm&r=g","magazine_blocks_category":"Featured<\/a> Football<\/a> Football<\/a> Sports<\/a>","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/matabeletoday.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1762","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/matabeletoday.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/matabeletoday.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/matabeletoday.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/matabeletoday.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=1762"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/matabeletoday.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1762\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1764,"href":"https:\/\/matabeletoday.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1762\/revisions\/1764"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/matabeletoday.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/1763"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/matabeletoday.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=1762"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/matabeletoday.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=1762"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/matabeletoday.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=1762"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}