The Sunday News
Mehluli Sibanda, Senior Sports Reporter
ASTOUNDED by the huge turnout at the match between Zimbabwean champions FC Platinum and South African giants Orlando Pirates, Highlanders chairman Kenneth Mhlophe has taken to social media to plead with the club’s fans to come forward with suggestions on where the Bosso leadership could be getting it wrong.
Over 23 000 fans turned up for the Caf Champions League clash, most of them being Bosso supporters who on the day backed the Soweto giants. Some of the fans who came late were turned away as tickets that had been printed are said to have run out.
Highlanders have not attracted such a crowd in years even when they play the biggest match in the land against their fierce rivals Dynamos as fans have stayed at home. Mhlophe took to social media soon after the end of the match to plead with his team’s supporters to inform him and his executive where they could be going missing it for the fans to shun their home matches. In his Facebook post, the Highlanders boss said that the attendance showed that the Bosso fans are many and they do have the money.
Crowds queue outside entry points at Barbourfields Stadium before the FC Platinum- Orlando Pirates match
“Ngiyalibonga bantu bakithi ngokubuya ngobunengi benu. Bengingazi ukuthi libanengi njalo imali ikhona. Ngilesicelo libuye ngobunengi benu kumdlalo we Bosso wokuqala. Siphambanisa ngaphi? Siyazehlisa. Sincedeni sincede iqembu lenu. Well behaved fans, what an electric atmosphere Emagumeni! I am proud to be your chairman. Ngiyabonga,’’ said Mhlophe. (Thank you for coming in your numbers. I didn’t realise that you are so many and that you have money. I am requesting you to come in your numbers to our opening game. Where are we getting it wrong? We implore you. Help us so that we can also help your club).
The cheapest ticket on the day was going for $5 and the most expensive ticket cost $20. Considering that Highlanders have struggled to attract crowds even when they were charging $3 for the rest of the ground, last Saturday’s crowd showed that there is definitely something that the club’s supporters are not happy about. It could be the way the club is run or the style of play. Whatever it is that the Highlanders fans are not happy about causing them to stay at home whenever Bosso play their home matches, it is up to the club’s leadership to figure that out.
— @Mdawini_29
