How ex-Mourinho’s assistant is turning Highlanders into invincibles
Former Jose Mourinho’s assistant coach Baltermar Brito is leaving no stone unturned in a bid to dominate Zimbabwe’s elite league, with Highlanders.
Coach Baltermar Brito has marshalled Highlanders to an impressive 17-match unbeaten run in the 2023 Castle Lager Premier Soccer League
Under the Portuguese gaffer, Highlanders are living up to their billing as one of the top favourites to win the 2023 title.
Zimbabwe’s PSL reached its halfway mark over the weekend and Highanders stand out as the only unbeaten team.
HOW BALTERMAR BRITO HAS FARED IN ZIMBABWE
They garnered ten wins and seven draws in the 17 matches played so far, a sign that they could be this term’s invincibles.
Coach Baltermar Brito, however, remains steadfast as Highlanders look to end a unwanted title drought stretching back to 2006.
“We are happy because of the boys and that our fans are happy too. It’s a long way ahead but we can’t lose focus,” he said.
“From the beginning we have been saying the same. No one put us among the top teams.
“So our responsibility is the same because when we came here we demanded better performance from the boys.
“It’s not because we are now on top that we can demand differently, even if we were 11th on the log.
“We are here to work, to try to go up there, to put pressure in the training sessions for them to develop as players and as a team.”
With 37 points in the bag, they can afford some breathing space going into the second half of the season.
They are seven points clear of their nearest rivals, Ngezi Platinum Stars who they beat 1-0 on Sunday.
Meanwhile the club is yet to reveal the fate of South African striker Thabo Lunga Zikode who has been on trials at the club.
Zikode has been in the country [Zimbabwe] for the last four days, with hopes of completing a move as Highlanders search for a striker.
According to transfermarkt, the 27-year-old was last active in July 2022 when he left Motsepe Foundation Championship side Uthongathi FC.
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