Highlanders set sights on CAF champions league
By Tichaona Sibanda
13 November 2006

Highlanders chairman Ernest Sibanda is setting his sights on reaching the knock-out stages of the Confederation of African Football’s champions league competition. After that, he says the ‘sky is the limit.’

But he also called upon the football authorities in the country to change the league format and run it along the lines of all other leagues in the world. The new global format kicks off the season in August and ends in May, as is the norm with all professional leagues. Zimbabwe’s football season starts in March and ends in November in direct contrast to all other leagues.

‘We need to look at this as a matter of urgency. We operate a league format that makes it virtually impossible for us to do well in the champions league as well as with our national squads. The big difference comes when we are on our annual break, other leagues in Africa would be half way through their programmes.

‘By the time we start our champions league campaign many would be far ahead with their preparations, so its not just right to stick to this old system,’ he said.

Speaking a day after his team clinched the 2006 Premier Soccer League title with three matches to play, the ecstatic Sibanda said the biggest challenge he is facing now is strengthening his squad for the continent’s prestigious club trophy. It is the fifth time in eight years that Highlanders have won the domestic title.

‘We will not sit on our laurels because we have done well domestically. Once the season is over, we will embark on a campaign to beef up our squad for next’s year champions league. We really need to move a gear up on the continent,’ Sibanda said.

In their previous continental campaigns Highlanders have never made it past the second round. The Bulawayo soccer giants clinched the Premier League title with a 4-2 win at Hwange Sunday. Methembe Ndlovu, the 33 year-old coach in his first year in charge of Highlanders told us he was very fortunate to work with a group of people who had the team at heart.

‘It’s been a fantastic season for me personally, the players, management and all our fans. We had this common goal of working as a team and that policy has achieved the desired results,’ said Ndlovu.