Highlanders FC
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| Full name | Highlanders Football Club |
|---|---|
| Nickname(s) | Siyinqaba (We are a fortress), Bosso, Bossolona, Mantengwane, Tshilamoya, Ithimu yezwe lonke, HighLanga |
| Founded | 1926 |
| Ground |
Barbourfields Stadium Bulawayo, Zimbabwe |
| Capacity | 40,000 |
| Chairman | Peter Dube |
| Coach | Elroy Akbay |
| League |
Zimbabwe Premier Soccer League (ZPSL) |
| 2016 | 3rd |
Highlanders FC is a Zimbabwean football club based in Bulawayo, Zimbabwe, formed in 1926 that plays in the Zimbabwe Premier Soccer League.It is one of the biggest, most successful soccer teams in Zimbabwe and arguably the most supported team. Everywhere it plays it attracts big crowds. It is also known colloquially as iBosso.
Founded in 1926 as Lions Football Club, composed mainly of boys born in Makokoba (Bulawayo's oldest township) by two of the great Ndebele King Lobengula’s grandsons, Albert and Rhodes, who were sons of Njube. In 1936 – the players changed the name to Matebeleland Highlanders Football Club.
Highlanders are known by their nicknames,Bosso,Tshilamoya,Amahlolanyama,Ezikamagebhula,High High, Mantengwane among many others. Bosso is derived from Setswana slang and means "The Boss."Tshilamoya is IsiNdebele and,loosely interpreted,could mean "big-upsetters" or "demoralisers" a term coined in apparent reference to the Team's nemesis.Amahlolanya is taken from the Grey-Crested Helmet-shrike,a bird found mostly in Southern parts of Zimbabwe whose black and white colours resemble those of the team's.EzikaMagebhula,a nickname for Orlando Pirates FC,can also be used in reference to Highlanders FC possible because of the similarity of both clubs' colours.
"Siyinqaba!" – "We are a Fortress!"
19th century- Colonialists decided to placate the Ndebele King Lobengula with a proposal to send his grand sons to study in the Cape Province in South Africa. The names of the two grandsons were Albert and Rhodes who were sons of Njube. 1926 – The two brothers returned from South Africa where Albert had completed studies in agriculture at Tsolo Agricultural School and Rhodes completed studies in book-keeping at Lovedale Institute. Both had taken to football as extra mural activities. Rhodes continued playing soccer and formed a team called the Lions Football Club, composed mainly of boys born in Makokoba (Bulawayo's oldest township).
1936 – the players changed the name to Matebeleland Highlanders Football Club.
1966 – the Rhodesia National Football League (RNFL) asked Highlanders to join them. They agreed and two years later were drafted into the 2nd Division. Highlanders finished top on their first year and were promoted to Division One.
1970 – the team was in the Super League, but after collecting just 7 points, they were relegated back to the First Division but were back in the top flight again a year later in 1971.
1972 – a British export joined the side, Tony McIlveen, from Northern Ireland. Tony had previous experience playing semi-professionally for Irish League side Crusaders, and whilst not known for his height, his tenacity as a midfield dynamo was an added bonus to the vastly improving side.
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