Benjani Mwaruwari: ‘Highlanders FC don’t want me’

Former Portsmouth FC and Manchester City forward Benjani Mwaruwari has dropped a bombshell after revealing that management at Zimbabwe’s Highlanders FC want him out as head coach.

In an explosive interview with the media in Zimbabwe on Thursday, the former Premier League star accused the Castle Lager Premier Soccer League (PSL) club’s officials of putting spanners in his work.

Benjani 🇿🇼 pic.twitter.com/40EochAAMl

— Manchester City (@ManCityES) August 13, 2025

Mwaruwari, who made 31 appearances for Manchester City between 2008 and 2010, cited Highlanders’ delays to secure work permits for new players as an example of management’s efforts to frustrate him since he joined them two months ago.  The Bulawayo-based outfit is also called Bosso.

Mwaruwari: Highlanders FC officials don’t want this to happen

“On that one [players waiting for work permits], I haven’t heard anything from the club,” the 47-year-old said. “Normally, by now I should have had the answer, but now I have to say it in public because people have been asking.

“They are not doing enough for this to happen. This boy has been here waiting for the work permits for the past one month but some in the club, don’t want this to happen.”

The former Portsmouth FC striker added that he has been working under difficult conditions as most of his requests for technical support fall on deaf ears.

“I am sorry to say this, but I must be open on some of the things that are happening in the club. I have been working in difficult conditions. Everyone didn’t want me here. That is a fact,” the ex-Warriors skipper said.

‘I can’t take it any longer’

Apart from the club’s failure to secure the work permits for the players, Mwaruwari further accused Highlanders’ FC management of not heeding his request to beef up his coaching panel with a performance analyst, among other demands.

Looking animated, the ex-Manchester City man shared his frustrations of having to do own research on opponents’ strengths and weakness when this was supposed to be the mandate of someone else.

“If I keep quiet, it has been long. I can’t take it anymore,” said the former Premier League regular.

Nonetheless, the former South Africa’s Jomo Cosmos FC player vowed to soldier on and fight for the club which he said is close to his heart.

“For those who don’t know want me, it is okay, but I will fight to make sure this team will grow. I know this team is in my heart and those who feel like it is not, it is unfortunate. It is high time I say this. I feel I needed best support, but I don’t have it,” he added.

Mwaruwari is making a return into coaching after he was sacked barely three games into his job with fellow Castle Lager PSL side Ngezi Platinum in 2022.

Under the tutelage of the former Zimbabwean international, Bosso have posted four straight draws and lie in 12th position with four points, eight points behind leaders CAPS United.

Bosso management hired the former Premier League striker as head coach in controversial circumstances after making a U-turn on the earlier unveiling of former Bafana Bafana assistant trainer Thabo Senong to the same position, only to throw the South African under the bus.

Founded in 1926, Highlanders FC are one of Zimbabwe’s oldest clubs boasting seven league titles. They will return to action on Friday to face FC Platinum.