Zimbabwe club coach who offered referee ‘glasses’ sacked

The off-season break in the Zimbabwe Castle Lager Premier Soccer League (PSL) is proving to be the busiest with players and coaches losing jobs while others are getting hired.

So far, Tonderai Ndiraya lost his job at Scottland FC despite leading them to their maiden league championship last week. Ian Bakala, too, got demoted at Caps United with Takesure Chiragi landing the big post. Elsewhere, Norman Mapeza dumped FC Platinum and is on the verge of joining the newly-ordained Castle Lager PSL champions.

Now, Pieter de Jongh, a well-known coaching figure in East and Southern Africa, has become the latest casualty in Zimbabwe.

Highlanders FC, who are also called Bosso, have announced that they have decided against extending the one-year contract of the experienced and controversial Dutchman, who calls himself The Champ.

“Highlanders Football Club wishes to inform its stakeholders and the wider football community that, after constructive discussions and by mutual agreement, the club and head coach Pieter De Jongh have decided not to extend their working relationship beyond the current contract, which runs until 31 December 2025,” the club’s statement reads.

“The club expresses its sincere appreciation to coach De Jongh for his professionalism, commitment, and positive contribution during his tenure. His experience and leadership have been valuable to the team, and we thank him for his hard work and dedication.”

De Jongh and his litany of controversies

The Dutchman returned to Highlanders FC in August for a second spell after coaching stints in Malawi with Silver Strikers then Botswana’s Jwaneng Galaxy FC. He led Bosso to an 11th-place finish in the just ended Castle Lager PSL season, 30 points behind champions Scottland FC.

De Jongh is no stranger to controversy. In the just-ended campaign, he lived up to his true self, making remarks that seemed to undermine the league and also his own club after suggesting that most of his players were of low quality.

In one of the most highlighted incidents, he removed from his pocket a box containing his eye glasses and offered them to an assistant referee on the touchline in protest over officiating.

He, on October 6, 2025, then wrote on his Facebook page: “The Champ wants to give his glasses to the linesman because The Champ thinks that he cannot see.”

Soon after his dismissal on Saturday, the Dutchman had a parting shot fired to Highlanders management. He accused some of the Bulawayo team’s administrators of having an agenda against him.

“Of course, not everyone supported me as a coach. In football, you always have a few people with double agendas, but no problem. The Champ always stays positive,” he wrote in his press release shared on Facebook page.

The Champ also had the audacity to thank only Highlanders FC Board Chairman Luke Mkandla, Vice-Chairman Fiso Siziba, Chief Executive Officer Denzil Mkandla, kit manager Bruce Tshuma, assistant coach Try Ncube, the fans and physiotherapist Loyal Nyika while leaving out the rest.

The former Kenya’s Leopards FC coach even singled out only five players for a ‘special’ thank you.

Founded in 1926, Highlanders FC are one of Zimbabwe’s oldest clubs boasting seven league titles. However, just as is the case with the country’s other giants Dynamos FC and Caps United, Bosso are struggling.