Bosso might play Caf Matches

ZIFA are confident that Highlanders will play in the African Champions League next year should they win the domestic championship or finish second.

Bosso were slapped with a three-year ban after turning down an offer to represent the country at the African club competition in 2011.

In an interview on Monday, Zifa president Cuthbert Dube said he met Caf president Issa Hayatou last week in the Seychelles where he attended a Caf general meeting and the Highlanders ban was among the subjects the two leaders discussed.

"I invited Hayatou to Zimbabwe and he accepted the invite. We had a lengthy chat about match-fixing which affected us and on the way forward about several of our development programmes which need funding badly," said Dube.

On the Highlanders case, Dube said he explained how in anticipation that Bosso would take part in Africa, the team was registered in advance before the deadline.

Despite qualifying for African football competition, Highlanders opted out because of financial constraints.
Dube said they were asked to write a letter again to Caf and the competitions commission of the continent and the issue would be on the agenda of the next meeting and Zifa are hopeful that the matter will get due recognition and the three-year ban lifted.

If the ban is not lifted it would be a big blow to young and ambitious Highlanders coach Kelvin Kaindu and chairman Peter Dube who never stayed at the club to accompany them in their maiden campaign in 2000.
Coincidentally, Kaindu was part of the team that won the 1998/99 Castle Lager League but left in the early stages for his native Zambia following a contractual disagreement and injury.

Dube, on the other hand, had a fallout with a section of the now notorious Highlanders board and opted not to run for secretary against Kennedy Ndebele who won three championships with the club between 2000-2002. "Hayatou said we should write an appeal letter to them and the issue will definitely come for consideration at the next meeting. They are sympathetic to our cause and the position Highlanders find themselves in.

"We want the team to play in Africa. It would be good for the youngsters who have had a good year to be rewarded at the end of the day and there is no better platform for them than playing at that level that offers them a wider audience of talent scouts and sponsorship opportunities," said Dube.
The Highlanders chairman said that would be a welcome development and would boost the morale of his players.

"It is one of the reasons why the boys have been playing so well. They want to play at a higher level and possibly get opportunities in other leagues in Africa and abroad," said the Bosso chairman.

By Sbue
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