Highlanders players boycott training over pay days before Dynamos derby

Highlanders players boycott training over pay days before Dynamos derby

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Highlanders’ preparations for Sunday’s “Battle of Zimbabwe” against Dynamos at Barbourfields Stadium have been disrupted after players reportedly stayed away from training for a third successive day, citing outstanding salaries.

With two days remaining before the fixture, the continued boycott has increased uncertainty around the Bulawayo side’s match readiness, while supporters have raised concerns about the club’s recurring financial difficulties.

Sources close to the developments said the players want payment of outstanding dues, while the club’s leadership has been engaging the squad in an effort to resolve the impasse and avoid a wider crisis ahead of the weekend’s match.

The boycott is understood to have continued into yesterday morning, leaving the technical team facing limited time to prepare for a derby that traditionally draws large crowds and carries significant pride and rivalry.

Sunday’s match is one of the biggest fixtures on Zimbabwe’s domestic football calendar, and the disruption has shifted attention away from tactics to off-field issues, with some fans questioning how the club has again reached a point where financial problems are affecting training.

The latest standoff has also raised concerns among football followers about the potential effect on player morale and the possible psychological advantage it could give Dynamos should the situation remain unresolved.

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Highlanders, widely known as Bosso, have in previous years faced cash-flow challenges that have at times affected both players and technical staff. The current dispute has revived debate among supporters about the need for sustainable solutions to protect team operations and performance.

Despite the uncertainty, the club’s leadership is understood to be keeping communication channels open with the players, while supporters continue to rally behind the team ahead of the derby.

However, as the boycott continues, anxiety has grown not only about Sunday’s match, but also about the longer-term stability of one of Zimbabwe’s biggest football clubs.

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