What began as a season full of promise has ended in disappointment for Highlanders FC, with the club officially cutting ties with head coach Kelvin Kaindu.
While emotions run high among fans and analysts, the numbers behind the decision tell a more consistent story: Highlanders became a team that was hard to beat — but even harder to rely on for a win.
After 17 games in the Castle Lager Premier Soccer League, Highlanders are sitting in ninth place with 23 points — a position that suggests neither disaster nor contention, but rather a troubling sense of stagnation.
Kaindu’s side managed 5 wins, 8 draws, and only 4 losses. Despite being one of the most defensively solid teams — conceding just 13 goals and scoring 18 — their inability to secure maximum points from winnable fixtures proved costly.
Their +5 goal difference highlights their resilience, but also underscores their failure to convert dominance into consistent victories.
In fact, Highlanders drew more matches than they won or lost combined — the second-highest number of draws in the league.
These frequent stalemates became a symbol of a team lacking a clinical edge, regularly dropping points from winning positions.
While other clubs with similar scoring stats — like FC Platinum and ZPC Kariba — have managed to climb higher through greater efficiency, Highlanders struggled to close games out.
They now trail league leaders Simba Bhora by 12 points, and even Scottland FC, in fourth, are just four points ahead. A few extra wins from their many drawn games might have transformed their season entirely.
In football, staying unbeaten doesn’t always equal progress. And for a club with Highlanders’ stature, sitting mid-table is far from acceptable.
Kaindu’s dismissal, though perhaps emotionally difficult, appears statistically justified.
In a statement released last night, the club announced that Try Ncube, formerly Kaindu’s assistant, will step in as interim head coach, supported by Agent Sawu as second assistant.
Highlanders Pull the Plug on Kaindu Era – What Went Wrong?
“Highlanders Football Club would like to inform its stakeholders of the following changes in its technical team with immediate effect: 1. The club has parted ways with head coach Kelvin Kaindu. 2. First Assistant Coach Try Ncube will, in the interim, head the technical team, assisted by Second Assistant Coach Agent Sawu. 3. The rest of the technical team members will maintain their roles.
The above changes have been necessitated by the recent streak of unsatisfactory results. The club wishes coach Kelvin Kaindu the best in his future endeavours and thanks him for his contribution during his time of service,”* the statement read.
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