Mhindirira’s career back on track
DEVINE Mhindirira has had to live with a bad-boy tag at Highlanders. He has been labelled and persecuted.
The 23-year-old midfielder has been facing an uncertain future at Bosso since October last year. But his problems started well before that when he was charged for failure to attend training sessions by the Bulawayo giants in February 2023.
He, together with Adrian Silla, was even linked with a move to CAPS United.
While Silla eventually managed to sign with CAPS United, Mhindirira remained with Bosso.
“I have had to live with it (bad boy label). It’s painful when you know that your career is being dragged into the mud for things you are not aware of,” said Mhindirira.
“But I have never lost hope. I last featured for my club when we played a goalless draw against Bulawayo Chiefs at Barbourfields in October last year.
“It has been tough watching from the sidelines, but the good thing is that I kept on believing.” With former Highlanders coach Baltemar Brito being replaced by the returning Zambian Kelvin Kaindu, it was always likely that Mhindirira would be given his chance.
Kaindu also gave a big hint of his intentions to use the midfielder even before the season started.
“Yes he (Mhindirira) is a Highlanders player and all players will have a chance to represent the team in the field of play.
“That is the reason they are on the team after all,” said Kaindu. “If he shows that he deserves to play for Highlanders then he should get that chance. “At the end of the day, it is about the team, it is about having the right attitude that helps the team achieve set targets.”
And Mhindirira has precisely ticked those boxes. After missing out on Bosso’s two opening fixtures against Dynamos and Bulawayo Chiefs, Mhindirira is back in the fold.
“To be honest, I am very happy doing what I love the most, which is playing football. I am really happy that I am back into the thick of things and I am relishing the challenge.
“I would like to thank my coach (Kelvin Kaindu) for believing in me and I wouldn’t want to disappoint him. I am here to play the best football that I can and help my team Highlanders win trophies,” Mhindirira said
The 2022 Soccer Star of the Year finalist’s contract ends in June. Bosso are understood to have opened talks to keep the Chitungwiza-born player at Barbourfields till at least the end of the year. He will be expected to lead Highlanders when they face FC Platinum at Barbourfields on Sunday.
“FC Platinum are a good team and we need to win the match,’’ said Mhindirira.
“We are leading the race and we need to consolidate that position by winning matches.
“We have an exciting group of players at Bosso and the mentality is huge. We are keen to go game by game..”