The noise will roll down the concrete terraces long before kickoff at Barbourfields Stadium on Sunday. The air in Bulawayo will carry that familiar edge, anticipation, pride and the weight of a city derby.
For Benjani Mwaruwari, it will be more than just another match. It will be his first in charge of Highlanders FC and it does not come any bigger than a showdown against cross-town rivals Bulawayo Chiefs.
The former Manchester City striker steps into the technical area with the calm assurance of a man who has walked grander stages, yet fully aware that few arenas are as emotionally charged as Barbourfields on derby day.
“From the look of things I cannot complain, we have worked hard to be in a position where I can safely say we are ready for the challenge ahead.
“We will work with the players we have and hope for better results,” said the former Manchester City striker.
Pre-season, he insisted, was about more than drills and tactics. It was about reconnecting players with the badge.
“They have been absolutely fantastic, they have shown us that Highlanders is the club that they want to be at.
The response, he says, has been everything he hoped for.
We are happy with the positive response, and they seem to have enjoyed the camp here and built bonds, which was one of the aspects key to our preparations for the season,” said Mwaruwari
However, Bulawayo Chiefs say they are targeting a stronger 2026 campaign, with their ambitions hinging on productive off-season preparations.
The club is focused on avoiding past mistakes and returning stronger in 2026. The priority is clear, compete effectively and secure top-flight survival, with improvements across all areas of the club.
“Our focus is simple, we are coming back as a better team in every department,” Sibanda said.
“The mandate is to compete properly and stay in the league. That part is non-negotiable.”
The clash is expected to be a tightly contested affair, with Highlanders looking to assert dominance at home, while Chiefs aim to disrupt and remain focused on staying in the league, leaving no room for mistakes.
