Nestled in the heart of Bulawayo, Zimbabwe’s second city and cultural heartbeat of Matabeleland, Highlanders Football Club affectionately known as Bosso, iBosso, or Amahlolanyama emerged in 1926 as a symbol of resilience, pride, and unyielding spirit. Founded amid the colonial shadows of Southern Rhodesia, the club marked its centenary milestone in 2026, celebrating a century of black-and-white glory that has woven itself into the nation’s football tapestry and Ndebele heritage. From dusty township fields to continental showdowns, Highlanders stands as Zimbabwe’s oldest surviving club, a fortress (Siyinqaba) embodying community ownership and defiant excellence.
Highlanders’ journey brimmed with drama: withdrawing from the Rhodesia National Football League in 1976 to pioneer the South Zone Soccer League, sparking a splinter club Olympics; fueling the 1979 National Professional Soccer League birth amid gate revenue gripes; and dominating the 1980s-2000s with clean sweeps like 1986’s Chibuku, Heroes, and Castle Cups. Stars like Bruce Grobbelaar, Peter and Adam Ndlovu, Benjani Mwaruwari, and Rahman Gumbo shone from Barbourfields Stadium (Emagumeni), propelling CAF Champions League runs to second rounds. The fierce “Battle of Zimbabwe” rivalry with Dynamos FC pulses with regional pride, drawing over 5 million fans who chant in isiNdebele, voicing culture and grievances through banners and song.As Highlanders turns 100 in with public launches, anniversary reels, and echoes of 99-year tributes – it remains a community-owned beacon, youth academies nurturing U13 to senior sides, women’s teams thriving, and legends like Peter Ndlovu honored in its Hall of Fame. From Makokoba’s birth to global echoes, Bosso endures as more than a club: a cultural parliament, a fortress of Ndebele soul, and Zimbabwe football’s eternal boss.
