Ex-Jose Mourinho’s assistant coach Baltemar Brito heaved a sigh of relief after finally masterminding an away win for Highlanders to end four years of unsuccessful attempts in the Zimbabwe Premier Soccer League [ZPSL].
Brito was under pressure to put an end to Highlanders’ awful record that his predecessors, Heindrikus Pieter de Jong and Mandla Mpofu, dismally failed to stop.
They had last won a league match away from their home, Barbourfields stadium, in July 2018 when they beat Triangle at Gibbo stadium in Chiredzi.
But Highlanders beat Yadah Stars 3-2 at the National Sports Stadium in Harare on Friday afternoon to finally secure the all-important away win.
This followed their impressive win over the troubled Harare club Caps United last weekend at home.
“Like I previously said, these statistics motivate us to fight hard, and today we finally did it,” Brito said.
“We won, and I believe this will help us to build the momentum for more wins both at home and away.
“As the coaches, we are answerable for all of the results, either draw or lose. I’m happy that the players have responded to what we have been doing at training.”
Brito has set his sights on winning the league title next season since the current race already eluded them.
“Our focus is on making Highlanders better next season and also making a mark in the Chibuku Super Cup. We still have something to fight for in that tournament,” he added.
Under Brito, the Bulawayo side played eight league matches and won four times.
They drew on three occasions, with one loss as their only blemish.
So much is expected from the well-travelled gaffer considering his wealth of experience, having worked with Mourinho at Inter Milan and Chelsea.
The Bulawayo giants last won a league title in 2006, then under Methembe Ndlovu and Brito is expected to end the club’s drought.
In the current season, Highlanders are already out of the title matrix but they still stand a chance of winning some silverware in the 2022 edition of the Chibuku Super Cup.
They face city rivals Bulawayo Chiefs in the quarter-finals of the tournament to be held in a fortnight at venues yet to be announced.
