Former Highlanders Football Club captain Thulani “Biya” Ncube has thrust Bosso as firm favourites for the 2016 Castle Lager Premier Soccer League title.

Bosso, who last won the league championship a decade ago, currently sit on top of the log standings with 30 points at the halfway stage.

FC Platinum have the same number  of points but have an inferior goal difference and have a chance to go atop if they beat or draw against Chicken Inn in their outstanding match on Saturday.

And Ncube, who featured for the invincible Highlanders side that won four consecutive league titles between 1999 and 2002, thinks 2016 could belong to the Bulawayo giant.

“I think Highlanders have a big chance if they keep playing the way they are doing,” Ncube told Sports Zone from his base in the United States where he is coaching juniors.

“The coaching department is doing a great job and I am confident the good old days will soon roll back in Bulawayo.”

The 38-year-old Ncube has been following Bosso closely through internet reports and believes his former team can only maintain their dominance if they take junior development seriously.

He singled out Bosso’s rookie star Prince Dube as an example of what youths development programmes can produce for clubs.

“From what I hear and read I think Prince (Dube) is the real deal. He is young so he has a lot of years ahead of him.

“If we can go back the junior policy of old then surely the good old days will roll back.

“The best way to do it is to keep the boys playing together from a tender age.

“If you look at our team almost all the players knew each other from the juniors,” said Ncube.

Ncube played in the same team with the likes of Zenzo Moyo, Gift Lunga Jr, Dazzy Kapenya, Siza Khoza and Richard Choruma all of whom had passed through Highlanders’ developmental side.