Highlanders Plan Botswana Pre-Season Camp

Benjani Mwaruwaru

Bulawayo giants Highlanders F.C. could head to Botswana this week for a proposed six-day pre-season training camp, with the trip subject to final clearance from the relevant authorities.

Sources close to the club say Bosso are finalising plans for a short camp outside Zimbabwe as part of preparations for the 2026 campaign. While an earlier proposal had identified Malawi as the preferred destination, Botswana has since emerged as the likely venue pending completion of travel and regulatory paperwork.

Efforts to obtain official comment were unsuccessful, but insiders confirm the club is engaging key stakeholders, including the Sport and Recreation Commission (SRC), to secure the necessary approvals.

“The team is expected to travel to Botswana, but everything is subject to the paperwork being finalised. The club is working closely with the relevant authorities to make sure the trip sails through. It is likely to be a six-day training camp, with practice matches against local Botswana teams lined up,” said a source within Highlanders.

A Fresh Start After 2025 Struggles

If the tour materialises, it will represent a marked departure from last season’s troubled build-up, which many within the club blamed for their disastrous 2025 campaign. Highlanders endured a chaotic pre-season last year under then-coach Kelvin Kaindu, who publicly expressed frustration over preparations before his eventual departure. The instability translated into poor performances on the pitch.

Bosso flirted with relegation for much of the season and only secured safety on the final day of the 2025 Zimbabwe Premier Soccer League campaign, finishing a disappointing 11th, one of the club’s lowest finishes in recent years.

Benjani Era Signals New Optimism

Now under the guidance of Zimbabwean football legend Benjani Mwaruwari, optimism is returning to the Highlanders faithful. Mwaruwari, whose professional playing career spanned South Africa and England, has been tasked with restoring stability, discipline, and competitiveness at the historic Bulawayo club. His appointment is widely viewed as a strategic reset aimed at long-term rebuilding.

The new technical team’s efforts have been bolstered by fresh financial backing, including a reported US$1 million injection from businessman Wicknell Chivhayo, a prominent Zimbabwean businessman

Why the Botswana Camp Matters

Should authorities approve, the Botswana camp will offer Mwaruwari and his staff a controlled environment to:

• Build squad cohesion

• Assess new signings

• Implement tactical systems

• Strengthen team bonding away from home distractions

Pre-season camps outside Zimbabwe have historically provided PSL clubs with valuable competitive exposure through friendly matches and high-intensity training blocks.

For now, however, Highlanders’ travel plans remain in limbo as the club awaits final clearance. If approved, the Botswana trip could mark the first tangible step in Bosso’s bid to reclaim its stature in Zimbabwean football.

Highlanders Plan Botswana Pre-Season Camp