Highlanders financial crisis deepens as players and coach go unpaid
Highlanders financial crisis deepens as players and coach remain unpaid since February, prompting training boycotts and renewed questions over club governance and sponsorship flows.
Highlanders Football Club is confronting a mounting financial crisis that has left players and the head coach reportedly unpaid since February. The Highlanders financial crisis surfaced publicly when members of the first team refused to train on Monday ahead of a scheduled league match against Chicken Inn on Wednesday. The dispute has exposed fractures around sponsorship payments, executive transparency and the club’s capacity to meet basic payroll and allowance commitments.
Players refuse to train ahead of Chicken Inn match
A wave of unrest among playing staff emerged on Monday when a group of players declined to take part in a scheduled training session. The boycott was described by club insiders as a protest over the non-payment of salaries and match-related allowances that are said to have been outstanding since February.
Club officials were notified of the action and the training session was postponed as management sought to open talks with senior players. The refusal to train heightened uncertainty around the availability and preparedness of the squad for the upcoming fixture against Chicken Inn.
Coach reportedly covers players’ allowances out of pocket
Head coach Benjani Mwaruwari is also said to be owed salaries and allowances dating back to February, compounding the sense of crisis within the club. A source close to the team indicated that Mwaruwari at one point used personal funds to cover player allowances in an attempt to keep the dressing room stable.
That intervention by the coach underscores the depth of the Highlands financial crisis and has intensified calls from supporters and stakeholders for clarity on who is responsible for meeting the club’s wage bill. Mwaruwari’s financial position and his relationship with benefactors have become focal points in discussions about how to resolve the immediate staffing disruption.
Sponsorship payments and benefactor role called into question
The club has acknowledged receipt of external sponsorship, including a reported US$250,000 payment from benefactor Wicknell Chivayo, described as the third installment of a US$1 million pledge made last year. Despite that injection, funds have not translated into settled payroll accounts, according to people familiar with club operations.
Chivayo was earlier reported to have indicated a willingness to take responsibility for Mwaruwari’s salary, a commitment that has not yet resolved the arrears. The apparent discrepancy between incoming sponsorship tranches and outstanding obligations has prompted stakeholders to ask for clearer accounting of how funds are allocated.
Concerns over executive management and missing audited accounts
Questions have been raised about possible mismanagement of club finances under the executive committee led by Kenneth Mhlope. Critics point to continued financial strain despite additional sponsorship from entities such as Sakunda and Gold Bullion as evidence that internal controls may be weak or that funds are not being directed to operational priorities.
At the club’s most recent Annual General Meeting, the executive failed to present an audited financial report covering the 2025 season, a lapse that has only intensified scrutiny. Supporters’ groups, sponsors and some board members have pressed for an independent audit and a transparent account of sponsorship receipts and expenditures.
On-field impact: winless after seven matches
The off-field turmoil has coincided with a poor start to the season on the pitch, with Highlanders yet to register a league victory after seven matches. Results and training disruptions have compounded each other, leaving the team struggling for momentum in a competitive league campaign.
Coaching staff and players have expressed frustration over the distraction of financial uncertainty, which they say has affected focus and morale. Club representatives have acknowledged that resolving wage arrears is a priority if the team is to recover its competitive edge.
Stakeholder pressure mounts for an immediate resolution
Fans, sponsors and other stakeholders have ramped up pressure on the executive to produce audited accounts and a clear plan to address outstanding liabilities. Supporters’ representatives have voiced impatience over repeated assurances and called for concrete timelines for payments.
Local business partners and external sponsors have also signaled concern that continued instability could damage the club’s brand and commercial partnerships. Calls for the board to convene an emergency meeting and to engage independent financial advisors have grown louder amid fears the situation could worsen without decisive action.
The club now faces an urgent test of governance and crisis management as it seeks to restore trust with players, staff and the wider football community. Immediate priorities include clearing overdue salaries and allowances, delivering a transparent accounting of recent sponsorship receipts, and presenting an audited financial statement to members and stakeholders.
Players and coaching staff have indicated they will return to training once they receive tangible assurances or partial payments, but no formal timetable has been announced by the club. The league’s calendar leaves little room for prolonged disruption, and a resolution will be required before competitive commitments place the team at further disadvantage.
If the executive fails to act, the club risks escalating internal unrest and potential intervention from sponsors or governing bodies seeking to protect the integrity of the competition. For now, supporters will be watching closely for evidence of a practical repayment plan and renewed financial discipline from those charged with managing club resources.
The Highlanders financial crisis has brought long-standing governance questions to the forefront, forcing a reckoning over how sponsorship funds are administered and how the club balances commercial promises with operational obligations. The coming days will be crucial for the club’s leadership as they attempt to secure payments, stabilize the squad and rebuild confidence among a frustrated fanbase.
