Time to Hold Pieter De Jongh Accountable for His Outbursts

What began as a tense Chibuku Super Cup semifinal between Dynamos and Highlanders on Sunday ended not just with penalty heartbreak for Bosso, but another storm of controversy surrounding their outspoken coach, Pieter De Jongh.

Inside the Rufaro Stadium press room, De Jongh delivered yet another fiery performance, veins bulging, voice raised, and fingers pointing, not at his players or tactics, but at referees, fixtures, and imagined conspiracies.

“How is it possible that Dynamos must always play on Saturday and next week play on Sunday?” he fumed. “Make an article about that. But you are not doing that.”

The Dutchman went further, calling the officiating “a big shame” and hinting that questionable scheduling might be the reason Dynamos “have no FIFA matches.”

But for many in Zimbabwean football, this was the final straw. What De Jongh calls “passion” increasingly looks like provocation, a pattern of behavior that blurs the line between competitive fire and open disrespect.

His repeated confrontations with match officials have become almost expected: the animated gestures on the touchline, the heated exchanges, the post-match tirades. While some fans see charisma, others see chaos, an attitude that chips away at the integrity of the game itself.

“Football thrives on passion, yes,” one former player said after the match, “but there’s a line. When every loss becomes a conspiracy, when every referee becomes an enemy, that’s no longer passion, that’s poison.”

For too long, football authorities have remained silent as De Jongh’s antics dominate headlines instead of his team’s performance. Critics are now calling for decisive action, be it fines, suspensions, or conduct training, to restore professionalism and respect in the sport.

A true leader accepts defeat with humility and channels frustration into growth. But De Jongh’s deflection and finger pointing only fuel division at a time when the game needs unity.

As the dust settles from Highlanders’ penalty shootout exit, one question lingers: how long will the game’s guardians continue to watch from the sidelines?

Because silence, as many now argue, has become complicity.

It’s time for accountability. It’s time for football to draw the line.