Is this the same old Bosso?

The adverse has happened quite frequently at Bosso this season. A life lost in violent scenes following failure to break an eight-year jinx over perennial rivals Dynamos, losses to token opposition even in Bulawayo, a 4-0 drubbing by Caps United last weekend, a Zambian coach who was used as a scapegoat and a failed executive are some of the scenes that should come into play from fans’ hindsight television.

Is the club going upwards or downwards? Is this the same old Bosso?

The Bulawayo giants have taken a downward spiral from their erstwhile status as one side of the football coin to which Dynamos is the completion. While their perennial rivals have soared in the past five years, Bosso have continued to tumble and before long, they could be the Liverpool of the Zimbabwean game. If nothing is done to rescue them, they might follow the path taken by former Argentine and South American giants – Atletico River Plate, at the end of the 2010-11 season.

Fans have dragged a number of claims in their diagnosis of the problems at Bosso, some wild and others justified, yet the Bulawayo giants continue to sing the blues. Some have blamed it on the use of non-Ndebele speaking players, forgetting that at some of their highest points, when the club won four titles on the trot, they had Richard Choruma, Britto Gwere, the great Tapuwa Kapini, Melody Wafawanaka, Stewart Murisa, Thomas Sweswe, Ralph Matema and Costa Maradzike in a playing contingent driven by its love for the game.

There are others who laid the blame on coach, Kelvin Kaindu and influenced his eventual sacking late last week – days after the Zambian had pledged his continued stay at the club.

Yet the most understandable diagnosis is that Bosso have drifted away from their age-old tradition of sporting and developing talent.

There was a time when Highlanders' only rivals in promoting talented junior players were former city rivals, Zimbabwe Saints. Many wonders what happened to the giant that once churned out stars like Madinda, Adam and Peter Ndlovu, Amin and Makwinji Soma-Phiri, Benjamin Nkonjera, the two Gift Lungas, Makheyi Nyathi, Methembe Ndlovu, Abraham Mbambo, Thulani “Biya” Ncube, Aram Tshuma, Master Masiku, Kelvin Maseko, Thabani "B-Car" Moyo, Derek Odowd, Wayne Albertyn, Johannes Ngodzo, Zephania Ngodzo, Noel Kaseke, Honour Gombami, Sizabantu Khoza, Alexander Phiri, Zenzo Moyo, Sautso Phiri and Simon Sibanda.

In the few instances that Highlanders ever looked outside the junior policy, they would bring in worthy players like Joel Luphahla, Charles Chilufya, Manase Mwanza, Dabitso Nkhoma, Mubariki “Mamba” Chisoni, Andrew Shue, Kelly Jacobson, Maradzike, Matema, Kapini, Eddie Dube, Eddie Nyika, Thabani Masawi, Ricky Sibiya and Stephen Alimenda, all good enough to fit into their system of play.

It therefore, goes without saying that, while Dynamos have kept their tradition of fortifying using the cheque book, Highlanders have abandoned theirs of producing juniours and thus, the Bulawayo giants have spiralled downwards where their biggest rivals have soared without end.

So, when the AGM finally comes, Highlanders should choose whether to continue going downwards or begin that rise again. Instead of voting for an executive that will promise to bring them the Christiano Ronaldos, Luis Figos and Luis Suarez of this world, the Bosso members should go for someone who will groom their own Lionnel Messis, Steven Gerrards and Paulo Maldinis so as to help the club get back to NORMAL.