The Sunday News
Mehluli Sibanda, Senior Sports Reporter
HECTIC times lie ahead for Highlanders who have two matches lined up in Harare prior to heading to Botswana for a four-team tournament.
Modern Ngwenya, the Highlanders acting executive chairman yesterday said they were waiting for the Zimbabwe Football Association to inform them of logistics related to travelling to Harare today for tomorrow’s match against Dynamos.
“We have decided to go to Harare tomorrow (today) for the match against Dynamos but we are waiting for information with regards with accommodation and travel from Zifa. As Highlanders we really appreciate to celebrate Heroes’ Day with the country, as a token of appreciation we are availing our team to play against Dynamos despite a depleted squad, we have sacrificed everything for this game,’’ said Ngwenya.
Highlanders last Friday wrote a letter to Zifa where they requested to be excused from playing against Dynamos tomorrow. Some of the reasons they cited was a depleted squad, caused by lots of injuries and that travelling to Harare would be strenuous since they were already playing in the Zimbabwe Defence Forces’ Day Challenge which they were informed of two months ago.
Tomorrow, Zifa have lined up Highlanders to play against Dynamos in Harare in a Heroes’ Day match. On the following day, Bosso will take part in the ZDF Challenge against a ZDF Select at the National Sports Stadium. After that, Highlanders head off to Botswana on Thursday where they are scheduled to take part in the Joy Foundation Supa Power tournament on Saturday which is also set to feature their local rivals Dynamos as well as the Botswana duo of Tafic Sporting and Mochudi Centre Chiefs with all the matches scheduled for Saturday.
Bosso were drawn to play Mochudi Centre Chiefs, a team coached by former Highlanders coach Bongani Mafu with the winner going on to clash with the team which wins between Dynamos and Tafic Sporting.
Highlanders chief executive officer Nhlanhla Dube said they had been invited to take part in the ZDF Challenge, a request which they agreed to since it helps Bosso spread their brand footprint. The match is part of the Zimbabwe Defence Forces’ Day celebrations on the same day.
“We were invited to take part in the ZDF Challenge and we accepted to be part of the ZDF Day on the football front. We are glad, in the spirit of the game, more than the financial gain, to spread our brand footprint. They are taking care of the requirements, there is prize money that will benefit the club and the players,’’ Dube said.
The Bosso CEO said with ZDF taking care of logistics, the club saw value in taking part in a game which has national significance. Winners of Tuesday’s match will get $9 000 with the losers set to pocket $7 000.
ZDF director of public relations, Colonel Overson Mugwisi, promised an entertainment filled day on Tuesday with football part of the activities lined up for the crowd.
“We are celebrating, we want to provide entertainment in the form of football. There will be financial incentives for both teams, they will get something, we will give them good money, we are opening gates at 7am and expect to finish all activities by 5pm,’’ said Mugwisi.
Castle Lager Premier Soccer League sides Black Rhinos and Chapungu will provide the bulk of players for the ZDF Select.
Zifa announced last week that Harare is set to host the biggest football fixture in local football which is the clash between Dynamos and Highlanders on Heroes’ Day.
In other fixtures featuring PSL clubs only, Shabanie Mine and FC Platinum will clash in Zvishavane while Chicken Inn and Bulawayo City will play in the City of Kings. Chinhoyi will witness top notch action when Caps United and Ngezi Platinum Stars descend on the Mashonaland West capital.
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