The Sunday News
Ngqwele Dube, Sports Correspondent
HIGHLANDERS chairman Retired Colonel Kenneth Mhlophe has praised the club’s South Africa chapter chairman, Nodumo Nyathi for spearheading a campaign that has raised ZWL$400 000 to clear the club’s debts.
Mhlophe said they appreciate the concerted effort that Nyathi has been doing which has resulted in the club’s debt being halved. He said they are likely to clear all the debts before the end of the year if the campaign remains on track.
“We appreciate Nyathi’s efforts in leading the campaign to raise funds to clear the debt and we also thank those that have responded to his calls and have contributed towards the fund. It has not been good having debts hanging over the club and we have always made all efforts to ensure the debt is reduced or does not increase. His efforts will ensure we are in good books with people and we are credit worthy,” he said.
Mhlophe said they are likely to start the season in a healthy financial situation with no debt to worry about. He said with no debt, it will be imperative on the club’s administrators to ensure they do not find themselves in a similar situation. Mhlophe said they would have to live within their means while also ensuring they widen their income streams.
“We are diligently paying those we owe and I am happy the process is flowing smoothly,” he said.
The crowd-funding campaign has seen 95 well-wishers, from all over the world, raise a total of $400 000 clearing half of Highlanders FC’s legacy debt by raising in May and June that had stood at $862 868 before the initiative released funds.
Nyathi also roped in popular musicians, who include Europe-based Vusa Mkhaya, Martin Sibanda of Ndolwane Super Sounds and Madlela Skhobokhobo to assist in magnifying Bosso debt clearance campaign.
The fans’ efforts were boosted by a R10 000 injection from Nedbank, an amount the campaign won in a competition run under the Thundafund platform owned by the financial institution.
