Highlanders lied to me – SA coach opens up on dramatic Zimbabwe exit; refusing Benjani offer

By Agencies

Former South African Under-20 coach Thabo Senong has opened up about his ‘shocking’ and abrupt departure from Zimbabwean giants Highlanders FC.

Speaking on Metro FM, Senong detailed a chaotic timeline that saw him transition from a newly appointed head coach to a man being rushed out of the country under the threat of immigration authorities in less than a week.

Senong arrived in Bulawayo on January 5, 2026, prepared to begin a two-year contract signed in December. However, by January 9, his tenure took a dark turn.

“I was ordered to leave the country on short notice, with only two hours to comply, and they said they would notify me when to come back once my work permit was sorted,” Senong revealed.

The coach expressed confusion at the legal justification used for his removal, noting that he had not even begun practical training sessions.

“What surprised me is that I was given 30 days by the same immigration officials when I arrived in their country, and the funny part is that a new coach was appointed following this incident,” he said. “I went to meet the players, and within minutes, I was told to leave as immigration was coming for me, despite having 30 days to stay in the country for my permit to be processed.”

‘HIGHLANDERS WANTED ME TO WORK WITH BENJANI MWARUWARI’: SENONG

The saga took an unusual turn when Senong discovered that his sudden ‘permit issues’ coincided with the club’s desire to install former Manchester City FC striker Benjani Mwaruwari as head coach.

According to Senong, the shift was influenced by club financier Wicknell Chivayo. Following his forced departure, the Highlanders CEO allegedly offered Senong a demotion to assistant coach or Technical Director, a proposal he flatly rejected.

“Highlanders then wanted me to work as Benjani’s assistant, but I could not do that because the coach has his own philosophy, so I felt he needed his own room,” Senong explained.

Having worked successfully in Tanzania, Malawi, and Lesotho, Senong noted that he had never encountered such treatment in his career. The disappointment, he says, stems from the club’s lack of transparency.

“I spent the whole of December knowing I was the Highlanders coach. So, yeah, I’m disappointed because Highlanders lied to me. They should have been honest enough regarding the whole situation.”

Senong confirmed that he is no longer seeking a return to the club and is currently focused on a legal resolution. “Currently, we are negotiating for a contract termination, so my lawyers are in touch with the club,” he concluded.