It’s another BF or Clubhouse toss

Fungai Muderere, Seniors Sports Reporter

IT will be another Barbourfields or Clubhouse toss for Highlanders followers this afternoon as the club is set to face Greenfuel at Emagumeni amid calls for fans to shun the game.

Last month, the club’s supporters decided not to watch their boys play against ZPC Kariba at Barbourfields Stadium.

The October boycott was motivated by what club members and supporters believed was unfair treatment by referees and football authorities after the team had a disputed penalty awarded against them in the Chibuku Super Cup quarter-final match against Simba Bhora resulting in the abandonment of the match.

Bosso were later fined and booted out of the competition by the Premier Soccer league Disciplinary Committee.

In the build-up to their game against Greenfuel, Bosso fans have been urged to gather at the Clubhouse as discontent grows over what fans call “predetermined outcomes” in the league.

“This coming Sunday (today), all roads lead to Highlanders FC Clubhouse to celebrate the life of the late Bosso CEO Sihlangu Dlodlo who was found dead on Monday evening. We call upon Highlanders sons and daughters not to attend the Bosso game against Greenfuel at BF and head to the clubhouse to celebrate and honour Mpangazitha and also raise money for the club to pay for scandalous fines imposed on our beloved club by PSL.

Our season is over as fans of Highlanders but we keep fundraising for igugulethu,” said one of the co-ordinators of the Clubhouse fundraiser Ezra “Tshisa” Sibanda in a social media post.

The late Dlodlo was laid to rest at Bulawayo’s Lady Stanley Cemetery yesterday.

The first fundraiser raised US$9 900, primarily from members’ and supporters’ contributions across different Highlanders chapters. The Clubhouse event alone drew 1 785 fans and raised US$5 934, with additional donations from chapters in the UK, South Africa, Botswana, Dubai, and Poland among others. Notably, a group of Dynamos supporters also purchased tickets to support their traditional rivals.

Today Bosso will be without the services of midfield duo of Mckinnon Mushore and Prince Ndlovu who were part of the Warriors Chan squad that played ESwatini in South Africa yesterday.

McKinnon Mushore

“We want to finish the season strongly. We need to really fight for the remaining points. However, we will miss Mushore and Prince. Our preparations went well and we will see how it goes,” said Bosso gaffer Kelvin Kaindu

Highlanders face stiff rivalry from Ngezi Platinum and Manica Diamonds for a top-four finish. With the title already out of their reach, a strong finish is crucial for Bosso.

In other fixtures scheduled for this afternoon, Dynamos will fight it out against FC Platinum at Rufaro Stadium.

Chicken Inn have a tricky away fixture against Chegutu Pirates at Mhondoro’s Baobab Stadium.

All in an effort to keep their chances of surviving relegation, Hwange will entertain last season’s first runners-up Manica Diamonds at Colliery Stadium hoping for a win and three points.