The Sunday News
Ngqwele Dube, Sport Correspondent
HIGHLANDERS Football Club will next weekend hold a sports festival involving different disciplines as part of the 90 years celebrations to show that the club has a sporting tradition that goes beyond soccer.
The Bosso@90 Sports Festival will see athletes competing in five disciplines that include darts, volleyball, netball, basketball and football.
Highlanders communications officer Sindiso Nyathi however, said it was undeniable that the football team remains the flagship team that the club is popularly known for, but Highlanders has over the years embraced other sporting codes that has seen them playing rugby, table tennis, darts, volleyball and netball.
“The Sports Fest will be on 24 and 25 September at the Highlanders Clubhouse and with free entry, we expect people to throng the venue irrespective of their club affiliation. We are inviting all sports lovers to attend and celebrate with us. We are putting final touches to the event and we hope to have a great sporting weekend,” said Nyathi.
He said they want to make it a fun-filled family day hence there will be entertainment for children that includes jumping castles and slides among others. Evenings will see performances by entertainment that includes performances by various local dance groups headlined by Iyasa.
The darts tournament is expected to attract over 100 players with teams from the local leagues taking part while the social soccer section is set to have 16 teams and will be in a knockout format and teams expect to take part include, Globe Trotters, Amavevane, Byo98 Legends, Bosso Legends, Media Select, Harare Supporters Chapter and Victoria Falls Supports Chapter and Entumbane-based Bombers.
All volleyball, netball and basketball will involve teams that play in their respective local leagues. Nyathi said there will be shields and trophies for all the sports competitions with Townshend and Butcher being the title sponsor for darts while
In-trum Sports Shop and Afdis will provide prizes for the football knockout Cup.
“As we all know the club is going through financial difficulties and we would appreciate any assistance towards the hosting of the tournament, which is being held under the theme Celebrating 90 years of sporting tradition,” he said.
“It will be a full bar and catering and we are likely to have the players coming to make a courtesy call and meet the fans during which time supporters can also take pictures with their favourite players,” said Nyathi.
Several other activities have been lined up to commemorate the club’s 90th anniversary among them an exhibition and launch of a compilation album. Highlanders Football Club was formed in 1926, as Lions FC, by grandsons of King Lobengula, Albert and Rhodes Khumalo. It has grown to be one of the biggest sporting institutions in the country.
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