Highlanders FC have confirmed that they will not renew Pieter De Jongh’s contract, ending the Dutchman’s brief four-month stay at Barbourfields. Sunday’s match against Chicken Inn served as his final game in charge, drawing the curtain on a tenure that never quite delivered the turnaround the club had hoped for.
De Jongh arrived in late July on a short-term mandate to stabilise Bosso after a turbulent period. He succeeded interim coach Try Ncube, stepping into the job with expectations of reviving the team’s fortunes during a tense run-in.
However, the anticipated improvement did not materialise. Under his leadership, Highlanders managed just one league win, with the rest of their matches dominated by stalemates. His league record — one win, one loss and seven draws — left the club battling for survival until the final day of the season, something the board viewed as insufficient to justify an extended stay.
Bosso also failed to secure silverware under De Jongh, bowing out of the Chibuku Super Cup at the semifinal stage following a defeat to fierce rivals Dynamos.
With the season now concluded, Highlanders are expected to begin their search for a new head coach as they prepare for a major rebuild ahead of the 2026 campaign.