The Sunday News
Ngqwele Dube, Sports Correspondent
HIGHLANDERS FC is set to hold its second annual sports festival in September following the hosting of the inaugural event last year.
Christened the Bosso Sports Festival, the event will see over 30 teams take part in six disciplines over the weekend of 1 to 3 September and Highlanders Sports Club will be the main venue. The event will this year have new additions that include men’s netball, women football, legends football and rugby.
The main attraction will, however, be the participation of Botswana’s Notwane Sports Club which has expressed strong interest in sending several teams to take part in the competition. Bosso Centenary Commemorations Committee chairman Luke Mnkandla said after hosting a successful event last year the club’s authorities resolved that it becomes an annual fest.
“As part of the 90 years anniversary celebrations last year we held the sports day and it was a great success leading to calls for it to be annual. It dove-tails with the decision that we host activities each year as the build up to 100 years celebrations. The sports day is important because it showcases the club in its entirety as a truly sports club and not just a football club.
“As part of growing the event this year we have incorporated rugby and we are hopeful Notwane will join us for the festivities, although they are yet to make a final confirmation,” he said.
Running under the theme, “Bosso@91 Towards 100 years of Sporting Excellence”, the sports festival will see participants compete in darts, netball, basketball, football and volleyball, sporting codes in which Highlanders has teams.
Highlanders Sports Club will host football, netball, volleyball and darts while Hartsfield has been earmarked as the provisional venue for rugby while basketball is likely to be played at Khanyisile Sports Centre.
Mnkandla said another new feature would be stalls set up to allow companies to showcase their products to spectators and participants. He said they are expecting a huge turnout which the corporate world can interact with.
“Stalls would be available at a nominal fee but are limited because of space constraints. We are also going to have entertainment in the form of a disco and for children there will be a jumping castle and a slide. A variety of club memorabilia and branded merchandise will be on sale while on the catering side there will be traditional dishes, braai and refreshments,” said Mnkandla.
He said they are still seeking companies to partner them in hosting the event particularly in coming up with prizes and meeting match officials fees.
“We have the Townshend and Butcher Highlanders Darts tourney being incorporated into the event and the opportunity for other sport codes to be sponsor-branded are still available,” added Mnkandla.
Highlanders was formed as a football club in 1926 by King Lobengula’s grandsons, Albert and Rhodes and has grown over the years to incorporate other sporting codes — @rasmthembo
