Highlanders versus Dynamos red card - too much farce about nothing

(Highlanders and Dynamos rivalry that never ends)

We live in very interesting times with all the unfortunate situations popping up from various sources with unclear intentions but obvious consequences.

To start with, football is a game played under a set of laws and unlike other sports who have rules. And there is a difference between laws and rules.

It must be noted that football is run by the custodians of the game in any given territory, and as an association sport, members who play it, do form that association as they associated.

Those who associated, participate in a league in which they have rules and regulations governing that particular competition. The referee enforces the law at all times and his decisions are final. It is always about his own opinion.

Highlanders and Dynamos played a 1-1 draw over the weekend in a match where one Dynamos player was dismissed (red-carded) for dangerous play. Here we will only use football language. 

Highlanders, like Dynamos, play football under the auspices of association football and are members of Zimbabwe Football Association (ZIFA), but playing in the competition sanctioned by ZIFA, called the Zimbabwe Premier Soccer League (ZPSL).

ZIFA and ZPSL have competitions and these competitions have the rules governing them and are clear to both parties. Of course, somewhere along the way ther is either a fol, a clown or a vicitm.

One must note that the associations of each territory come together as equal members of an international body called FIFA. FIFA has a special body governing the laws of the game, the IFAB (International Football Association Board).

According to IFAB, only special members can make special decisions outside the field of play. Otherwise, the referee's decisions are final at all times.

This is the reason why the English Premier League can look at the incidents on video and make decisions according. That special dispensation is not common to all members.

One reason for its acceptance in England and possibly a few more members now is that technology available leaves no doubt about anything, as there are multiple cameras to view the same incident.

All said and done, there are always impartial committees to review each incident weekly. These uninterested parties are experts in what they do, in terms of laws and technology.

In the matter at hand, Zimbabwe Referees Committee (ZRC) chairman happens to be the Zimbabwe Football Association chairperson, Philip Chiyangwa. He is a known Dynamos sympathiser.

The question arises as to why he got involved in a Zimbabwe Premier League matter, as the competition is not a ZIFA baby?

ZIFA cannot find themselves handling an appeal from any team for a competition they do not run unless the case has been escalated to that level. To nullify the red card shown to Dynamos striker Christian Epoupa Ntouba on Sunday at Rufaro Stadium shows some form of football illiteracy.

There are few red lights here, given that ZIFA had decided to overrule referee Arnold Ncube's decision without giving reasons and that Dynamos Richard Chihoro said that they had not appealed at all.

Whether it was a Chiyangwa or ZIFA decision, it is a mad decision. Either way, it must be sought to clarify under what condition and auspices such decision was made, like the members present and their capacities.

It must be noted that whether that seating had video analysis and made their decisions made by their opinions of the incident, their opinion does not matter. How many times do people view the same thing for years and fail to agree on the right outcome?

If the referees made the wrong decisions, such committees must not reverse the decisions but either train their personnel or punish the perpetrators. And in any case, there is not a single qualification Chiyangwa holds to sit on that committee.

At some stage, I think this is a nuisance of an incident to receive attention and it can never happen. There are no grounds to implement such a decision.

Dynamos will have to play their next match against Caps United, and if they use the same player, will the ZPSL accept the Cameroonian player in their team sheets? I do not think so. Let us say that the match goes on, and Dynamos use that player, ZPSL can simply dock the points as it is their competition, not ZIFA's competition.

Regarding the ZPSL, there seems to have been no letter or appeal made to them about their own competition, meaning that as far as they are concerned, the noise about this issue is a lot of farce about nothing.

Ncube surely made a report to the owners of the competition. Unless he handed a different story, then the ZPSL have some work to do. For now, they must stay put as they have clear rules and guidelines regarding such matters.

It has been brought to our attention, that the Order 30 of the PSL Rules and Regulations is as follows:

30.1 Any club involved in a match, may lodge a protest with the League in respect of any match played under the auspices of the League provided that:
30.1.2.3 A written protest accompanied by a protest fee of US$1000 (One thousand dollars) is lodged with the General Secretariat of the League within 48 hours (forty-eight) hours (excluding Saturdays, Sundays or public holidays) of the game and
30.1.2.4 The written protest referred to in order 30.1 above sets out the full facts on which it is based and refers to the Article and/or rule and regulation allegedly contravened by the offending party; and
30.1.2.5 The protest is not made against the referee’s and/or assistant referee’s decision connected with play, such decisions being final.

Do you think there is anything that Highlanders should worry about? Let us know.

Highlanders Bosso memories: The Midfield Generals

(Willard Khumalo, Madinda Ndlovu and Mercedes Sibanda)

Football players of raw passion and desire to entertain while having fun came naturally in the 1980s and 1990s. Among the many gifted players who became actors of the great Highlanders Football Club over that period of time was Willard Mashinkila Khumalo (MHSRIP), famous then for galloping while in possession of the ball, to the roar of the responsive Stadium.

This midfield general of immense talent, passion and attitude, ‘Nduna’’ as he was popularly known,  had a physical presence, dribbling, passing and vision made him a darling to watch.

 Many will remember the stadium roaring ‘Mawiii’ or simply, "Wiiiiiiii" with his every touch of the ball. He intercepted the balls in midfield intelligently, supporting other players off the ball and above all, had the great passing ability over short, medium and long distances.

Nduna’s football was compelling at the club and national level and remained a cog to the teams he played for which included Caps United. Willard was the king pin of the Reinhard Fabisch's Dream Team of the 1990s. He went to ply his trade in Germany as well.

Many young Highlanders FC supporters may not know Lazarus Mwambopo. ‘Lulu’, started running as he came out of the tunnel for warm-up and never stopped. He ran in a particular fashion, his hands kind of hanging loosely from the wrists.

He tirelessly toiled all day. His great vision and weighted passing were a joy to behold. Lulu played for Eagles FC with Victor Moonsamy and Elvis Chiweshe among others. The industry of this man's input in each shift could never be equalled.

Ernest ‘Maphepha’ Sibanda was slim as a paper, hence his nickname. This speedy winger flew making the 'Chew' noise with his mouth as he charged. Sibanda played for Caps United in a distinguished career and later became the team manager of the very successful Bossolona and eventually Chairman. The man had good control of midfield control and imposed his style of play with ease.

Nqobizitha Maenzanise (MHSRIP) is another of the great midfielders of his generation and beyond. As stubborn as a donkey on the road, he marshalled the midfield at will. He had invaluable technique, killing any ball dead in an instant and passing with amazing accuracy with the inside or outside of the foot. His vision left you wondering if he really saw the development prior.

‘Humpty’ tended to have lazy runs with his bow legs and his arrogance got him a few red-cards during his career. He never really celebrated a goal as he just took it as a pass to the net. One cannot remember him losing the ball once it was at his feet and he released it only when he wanted, and very accurately so. 

He was a useful player at Zimbabwe Saints, Matebeleland High City and he captained the national team. One thing few people knew about him, was his great humility. I had great pleasure taking him through coaching courses and was always amazed how so humble and willing to learn he was. He worked as a court interpreter.

In the same mould of build and technique was Makheyi Nyathi (MHSRIP). I have never seen a better ball passer. His control of the ball was magnificent. ‘Ninja’ played first team football at a very tender
age. He was very good at anticipating and intelligently intercepting balls timely without a hassle. He was a hard tackler who enjoyed his game. 

Makheyi scored some amazing long-range goals regularly. He was such a great magician who made his first team and national squad debuts aged sixteen. This player can be described as a true general of the game and an icon. He suffered knee injuries that cut his career shorter than it should have been.

Another tireless worker and exquisite passer was Aram Tshuma (MHSRIP). He had played a lot of first division football with Red Seal Rovers before joining Bosso. What a revelation he was. 

Aram passed the ball early with great quality and silently went about his business in attack and defence. He was a goal scorer of note, especially from distance.

Richard Choruma joined ‘Amahlolanyama’ looking lazy and many fans did not believe that he was going to be a revelation he became. His small frame fooled many opponents. Choruma worked hard in midfield winning balls, developing into one of the finest players.

Choruma played alongside Benjani Mwaruwari at Air Zimbabwe and his move to South Africa was not as successful. The Dabuka Express was an intelligent player with a great engine and a professional every coach dreamed of. 

Alexander Phiri was a high calibre player and a scorer of thunderous goals that would make Paul Scholes jealous. Zander always looked to play the ball forward early and accurately and worked extremely hard all the time. His goals will always feature as some of the best seen at Bosso. He played alongside Blessing Gumiso who was a pivotal figure in midfield himself.

Gumiso was a strong anchor-man who worked hard for the team. As a workhorse protecting the defenders, Magumaguma was tireless and very decisive in tackles and man-marking. He was very dependable in one versus one situation and scored some good and important goals. His contribution released other exciting attacking midfielders to venture forward in enterprising fashion. 

Siza Khoza was one untouchable swift player. As soon as he was on the run with the ball at his feet he flew off his feet. Nkinko was extravagant sometimes, keepingh the ball with him for too long but when he got his way, it was ever so sweet. 

The ball stuck to his feet as if glued. It was his not so generous frame that made him rank last in national team selection. At Caps United, his artistry did not live up to his reputation. Siza ran from midfield to the flanks and also attacked the central positions with great purpose and direction. He was a defender's nightmare. He scored vital goals for the team.

Gift Lunga Jnr operated as a left-winger. His tremendous dribbling ability took many by surprise, including himself I think. ‘Thebe’ had wits to do anything. His flowing movement when in full flight on the left wing, the dread-locked Thebe reminded many of Jay Jay Okocha. He was purely exquisite and sublime. The Bosso faithful will have memories of the great and crucial goals he scored.

Who can forget the late Thuthani Moyo, a player who used both feet to dribble with amazing ability? He knew of his gift and he pushed the limits. He also had a deceptive lazy dribble, which made drilling the ball through opponents’ legs look casual. One could mistakenly think he used his hands to manipulate the ball. That is how clever his feet were.

Mpumelelo 'Era Munna' Dzowa and the late Ronnie 'Jeans' Jowa came across as genuine midfield commanders who people confused for each other because of the surnames which rhymed. Mpume took control of the game with great vision and passing that mesmerised opponents. He later developed to be a key member of the Green Machine, Caps United.

These players were a team that was very talented, having matured earlier from a reserve team of the mid-1980s named 'Liverpool'. 

Many will remember high-quality technician, Thoko Sithole, who was nimble-footed. He was a darling to many and proved to be a midfielder of immense talent.

The fluid Benjamin ‘Matambanadzo’ Mpofu came from Kadoma's Eiffel Flats and endeared into the Bosso fans with a workmanlike shift match after match with great incisive runs going forward. He had the courage to carry the ball across the field and into the attacking third.

One not so popular, yet vital midfield of good defensive qualities was Harrison ‘Ayashis' Amateki’ Meki. Ayashis' Amateki was loved by his teammates for his ability to make their jobs on the field easier.

Amin Soma-Phiri was such a lovely character. ‘Khazeni’ had a spirit to move mountains. Like his brother Makwinji, his greatest asset was the head. Amin must have scored more Cup goals than any Bosso player, mostly with his head.

The bow-legged strong man of soccer was a forceful and committed player who disliked losing. The fighting spirit rubbed well into those around him and he always imposed himself on every defence.

The late Titus Majola was simply class and very intelligent. Simply the best. ‘Zii’ was unbelievably flamboyant and knew where to be every time. His strength was the simplicity of play. He made football look very very easy. He played along the charismatic players like Alex Maseko, Fanual Ncube, Douglas Mloyi and Peter Nkomo, among others.

Tito Paketh, a brother to Francis Paketh of Eagles was a talented dribbling wizard with nimble feet. Tito scored amazing goals and mostly from distance. The strong midfielder had great vision and mouth-watering passing ability. He left playing alongside his brother Francis, at Eagles and joined Amahlolanyama. He was a great player who enjoyed his game and all at Tshilamoya enjoyed watching him.

David Phiri brought to the game excellent passing and ball control in the midfield. His strong attitude to the art made him look comfortable and relaxed. His goals were marvellous. Dave proved to be a consistent midfielder with the ability to deliver every time he played.

Many know Andrew Shue as a Hollywood actor of the soapie, Melrose Place. He played football for Highlanders and was a such a genius. He was not fancy at all but did the necessary with simple football. 

I remember an unfortunate game in Harare where he gave away a silly goal in a Cup final or something. He felt gutted and found it hard to deal with the mishap. 

Another American, Kelly 'Sharp Mafana' Jacobson played further in front as an attacking midfielder and his passing always astounded the supporters. He scored few important goals.

Dowd had the chilling accurate forward passes with the correct weight and direction. It made up for the poor defensive behaviour, which was his weaknesses. He had off days that could annoy fans but played a key role in most of the matches he played that the fans named him Dube.

Lovemore Ncube was a temperamental character who fought too hard and hated to lose. ‘Magents’ was a vital engine room cog who always played a kingpin role. He was a terminator kind of player. The ball winning ability gave the much-needed steel in his game which many took for rough play.

Magents always played hard and took no prisoners with each tackle making a statement. Lovemore went to play successfully for Dynamos, before leaving for overseas.

Rahman Gumbo was an influential midfielder despite him starting a striker at Eagles where he scored goals with the ease of Ian Rush. ‘Rah’ was very clever and consistent as a Number 9 and as a midfielder. Injuries were unjust to him resulting in his retirement. Rush played a pivotable role for the Dream Team and later developed to be a great coach.

In all his first and second level courses that I conducted, he remained humble and inspired his classmates in the courses. He proved to be a winner as he won championships with Bosso, Caps, as well as Malawians and Botswana teams. Many will remember with fondness the great goals he scored against South Africa upon Mzansi's readmission to international football in 1992 and that goal against Goh Mahiaat Emagumeni.

Benjamin Nkonjera was a destroyer in midfield who always was serious. Probably the finest midfielder ever‘Mackanaky’ had good man-marking skills, interception ability of unsurpassed proportions and passing that would rank amongst the best you ever saw.

Benjie was a cog for Bosso and national teams for many years and had a huge impact on successes of the Dream Team. He scored tremendous goals and finished his career at Amazulu after a fruitful stint at FC Kriens of Switzerland.

Mubariki Chisoni was a true version of dynamite comes in small packages' player. ‘Mwamba’ seemed just too slippery for the opposition. He seemed to have it very easy all the time. For a midfielder of his stature, he was a class act who scored beautiful and important goals. He had great ball control and was very courageous.

Methembe Ndlovu played comfortably in defence as he did in midfield. ‘Mayor’, as a holding player was a darling of the BF crowd, intercepting the ball at alarming rates. One would think he attracted the ball to his feet.

He was so dependable and committed in everything he did, becoming one of the best players in 1995 Under 23All-Africa Games in the squad who won silver medals

His ball distribution was one of his strengths.Mayor’s football took him to the United State of America where he attained high coaching qualifications. He became one of the most successful Bosso coaches.

Honour Gombami is one living artisan of football with immense talent. He graduated soon after Johannes'Tshisampama' Ngodzo but they did play together very well. Honour had a silky touch to blow your mind.

Gombami’s vision and passing incredibly opened defence like a hot knife through butter. His work-rate was really an asset to the squad and he dished his stuff week in and week out.

He went on to play professionally in Belgium but injuries dealt with him treacherously and stalled a growing career.

Another fine specimen of a footballer must be Ngodzo himself.Tshisa dribbled as if he was romancing the ball with his feet. He is one footballer you will come across once in a lifetime. He was a gem of a player with a true Midas touch.His enviable technical ability almost made the ball talk.He ran with the ball, dragging it behind him as if it was
glued to his heels and his long range passing.

He dribbled for fun and made all look easy in the field of play. Injuries were unfair to his and he did play for the national team.

Charles Chilufya was hard shooting and generally a workaholic of a Zambian. ‘Chief’ scored memorable goals. He worked for the ball and was quick to go forward.Chilufya came from city rivals, Railstars, who had acquired him from Wankie Football Club. Tthe combination with Choruma was telepathic.

Master Masiku was one of the most under-rated players ever, with a very big engine and love for the game. An easy midfielder to coach with total commitment, he was a good ball winner and scored some amazing but few goals. He was always committed to his game and played a pivotal role at Railstars.His finishing did not compliment his efforts. 

His boyhood friend, Kelvin ‘Mtshawa’ Maseko had a better work rate. Mtshawa had long strides and a tremendous engine to run all noon. His passing and shooting were high class.

He did not stay long at Highlanders, moving to be a force to be reckoned with at Railstars F.C.To the so many others who made the Highlanders family feel worthwhile, there can never be enough thank yous.

All the midfield generals intrigued the BarbourfieldsStadium with the intricate and quick passing that electrified the vibrant and chanting faithful at the Soweto, Edgars and Mpankweni stands.They packed powerful shots and scored thunderous goals that won the trophies and championships. They
supplied the sublime through balls to the strikers and thrilled everyone with the dribbles and trickery.

Who was your top Midfield General?

Highlanders merchandise; What do you have?

The Bosso sons

What Highlanders Football Club merchandise do you own? 

Replica jerseys, mug, sticker, pen, writing pad, jersey, scarf, cap, beanie/monkey face, pyjamas, key-holder, cosset, door mat, wall paper, stapler, bottle opener, cellphone cover, bed sheets, bed cover, towel, kid nappies, tissue paper and other merchandise?

Of whatever you have, which one is genuine and helping the club? If not, ungumbulali. All fans and supporters must police piracy and eradicate it completely and speedily. 

The first port of call for all, is ensuring the Bosso merchandise is legit and all must have it. The club must quickly assign few people to produce a set of items for a certain commission and the supporters' base must ensure that there is no unlicensed sell of these goods.

The Bosso Legends were at the forefront of the Funeral Plan and Medical scheme concept. It must be taken further and very seriously. Again, astute business people who love money must be tasked with the project.

Utilising people who are not hungry for money is a death sentence to success. The idea dies before conception. Due diligence cannot be left to the whim of those celebrating mediocrity.

Business people who want success, who will diligently follow every cent and take no nonsense have to be identified and tasked to run a business in conjunction with or on behalf of the team.

The questions that need to be answered are; would you not join the  Highlanders F.C Funeral Plan? Will you not buy the Bosso merchandise? Funeral Plan and Medical Aid need to be made global and payments available online.

The club must cede branding merchandise rights to sell everything from vuvuzelas, baby nappies, blankets, coffee mugs, umbrellas, side mirror socks, car bras, stickers, balloons, seat covers, tablecloths, doormats, or swim wear.

These products must be worldwide. Opening a merchandise shop at Emagumeni and displaying everything the team has ever won would make it attractive.

Displaying the pictures of the history of the team would make selling memorabilia even easier.

In South Africa, the Premier Soccer League gave a percentage of sponsorship money for the people who negotiated the deals, and that changed the South African, and indeed African league football.

Other projects to be embarked on include the use of the club colours and flags on branding taxis and buses.

The legends can be tasked with such as they have time and focus to pursue these ideas totally and harness the complete potential of the brand as they self-advertise by their presence.

Highlanders must not be a burden of people from outside. How the team survives on charity like an ‘Old People’s Home’ was taboo and must never be repeated.

More often than not, the selfish protection of the team’s brand gets its potential sterilised to the detriment to the pregnantation of the locked up potential.

Old culture and outdated view points stunt the growth of the club’s finances and renders the followers the laughing stock.

Until when? What Highlanders need right now, is, you and I.

From the book; "What Highlanders Need Right Now! currently available on www.amazon.com as an e-book, Kindle version and paperback for $0.99 limited promotion. Keutsepilemang Ndebele is a former Highlanders Football Club Technical Adviser (2001), currently Technical Adviser and Video Analyst at Witbank Spurs FC.

What Highlanders need right now - the Business Plan

The ocean is made up of many drops of water. The key will be working together here for the love and worthy cause of iBosso. The ultimate source of the Club’s survival is in the people who love the team.

This business plan takes the Club’s finances to a different level. It involves you, your family and friends and every Highlanders fan that you may know, and their friends. 

All this can easily be done in the comfort of your home, office or on the move.



As a match ticket price of $10 a book, if all you, your family, friends and Facebook friends and their friends make a purchase, half the net purchase price will go towards the Club’s coffers, subject to their approval.

After relevant taxes and publication costs, you will realise this is not much if it is just the two people. Sparing $10 a month whether you love Highlanders or football is not a big expense. It may be that you just love this site.

All you need to do is make sure you use social networks and ask your friends to be part of the solution. It must become second nature to you and your pals to make a monthly purchase.

The updates of the e-book will be available to you at the going price. Efforts to get freshest and useful information will be encouraged by the responses. For all in the diaspora, teaching others the use of online purchases and book downloads is encouraged.

In many parts of the world, it is normal practise but there are areas where confidence to make online purchases is low. As the best e-Books publisher is used, the process is very safe. 30 000 copies 12 times a year will leverage the team’s well-being in a big way. It will be easy to track the amounts generated and tax paid. There are more advantages.

With over a potential 360 000 copies annually, a healthy net profit would almost reach a million dollars. This is just part of the deal. Immense marketing by the fans and supporters would push the figures higher. It is something different that can be done from all over the world and at any time.

Purchases by friends who do not know the team or have interest in the game will actually be what the team needs right now. This will be a guarantee amount in the clubs’ budget and it will be better and bigger with time.

The benefits of this are obvious and immense as they have a direct impact. You will be contributing to the team irrespective of where you are. Internet is everywhere for you to access the download. With internet frauds common, at least you will be certain there is person responsible for the whole process. 

The accountability and transparency of the intention and process is for the world to see. To expedite the plan, there are no people trying to group here. The process of committees does not come into it. The meetings and forming quorums is not involved or drawing up constitutions.

There will be no need to open bank accounts and have signatories to disburse the funds. As private as this is, there is one man accountable. The publisher gets the payments and deposits funds in a bank account after deducting taxes and publication fees.

At a cost of a cup of coffee and a sandwich from you and a few friends, together we can do more. The success of the initial project will turn this e-Book into your magazine based on www.tsendex.blogspot.com or on its own.

The system works very effectively with any leadership in place and is long term. To be a successful, the sustenance must endure despite being a personal sacrifice to help the team.

As much as it is not an easy to trust or be trusted, it is a risk one must take, because there is strength in numbers, especially those who claim to have the team at heart.

In your community, ensure all your colleagues make the purchases. Look at it as making a purchase and enjoying the product while your responsibility to help is done. It is about what the team gets for the product you buy and own.

Readers who are not even followers or lovers of the team will be making their purchases too. Take responsibility and take action. Sitting and watching other teams being innovative got the team nowhere.

Supplementing the Club's coffers in general and specific ways must not be an individual’s burden. This must involve all in every corner of the planet and any aliens from elsewhere who have no doubt known Mantengwane in years gone by. Highlanders have suddenly become a breeding ground for players who get window dressed and snapped for a song, if not free.

All can help. Your pledge for the love and worthy cause of Tshilamoya and encouraging others makes one an asset to the team and that is invaluable. This virgin project cannot wait for people from other teams to copy the idea and even make it a success while we dilly-dally. Being not first and expecting the team to be, is naïve.

Getting new players or paying sign-on fees for those retained will be easier. Paying your life membership at $80 and your annual subscriptions is key. Maybe it is now possible to join online at the moment. Try to get someone to do it too.

While that financial independence vehicle is moving forward, a parallel and complementary system needs an immediate and effective implementation. We will discuss that in the next series.

Of a large population in the diaspora claiming have the love of the team, the worthy cause of Bosso should spur all and sundry to pay a match fee of $2.

The team plays friendly matches and around forty matches per season are played. Given the distance and inaccessibility of online banking and the club’s bank account details, these funds have to be deposited in a piggy bank every weekend until the last match.

Year after year and with growing numbers, the club would realise over $2 400 000 annually, besides the cash from this book or magazine sales.

As all business ventures, the contract between the club and co-ordinators of the projects should be specific and make financial sense to the parties involved.

Revisiting income projections, the assumption is the 30 000 (very small figure this) ‘diasporans’ faithfully contributing their $2 for 40 matches (weeks) in a season. It amounts to $60 000 a week,
and over 40 weeks, it is mega bucks.

If all get the copies of this book as pointed out earlier, the annual income from the supporters will surpass a $4 000 000 figure. Surely, the club would do with that amount for the salaries and transfer market as well as junior or youth development projects.

It is in this way that the fans can suggest and adopt projects to be undertaken without the burden of the executive committee. There is too much expectancy and dependency of the leadership of the club led people to sit and only question what the bosses are doing with one, two, three. Do not ask, act.

The issue of risk and mistrust kept many people at bay and under those conditions, the team almost suffered a natural death. Operating under any institution requires scruples and true commitment. 

The ridiculous attitude that is symbiotically devoid of transparency and results cannot be acceptable to true fans. 

Your suggestions and concerns in many platforms cannot be a barometer of passion, but maybe Only a show-off of your intellect and societal standing. All must appreciate that one's activity and contribution at any given time will have an impact. 

Your keen interest about what is going on at the club, must equally and crucially be matched is what is coming from the fans’ pocket into the club. That is symbiosis.

That is what all 30 000 beautiful fans of Highlanders should be thinking. Of all the calculations and
assumptions, the belief is that 30 000 is a minimum number of people who would watch the team if the opportunity arose.

Frankly, that figure is too generous. I believe that number is double. It would not matter if all were negative individuals who contribute nothing. Imagine if only two people were committed to the worthy cause. That would count for nothing.

While there may be a strong supporter base on the ground, it is usefulness if it is still to be realised and utilised. The structures will have to be set up, but to many, the supporters’’ role is to question and query.

These institutions need to take aim at one target over a year or so and accomplish something meaningful. The need to materialise some dreams for the benefit of the club and team tops the agenda of growth-minded bodies.

With the potential revenue of the club supporters, in case the executive becomes ‘unhelpable’ by refusing such funds as once experienced before, or are not cooperative in accepting fans’ donations, $5 000 000 that can be raised annually can rebuilt The Clubhouse.

Without a shadow of doubt, over 10 years, a stadium can be built. The opportunities are endless for the openminded, but how open is your mind?

The Club needs radical changes to the approach of fundraising and engage an aggressive business plan.

From the book; "What Highlanders Need Right Now! currently available on www.amazon.com as an e-book, Kindle version and paperback for $0.99 limited promotion. Keutsepilemang Ndebele is a former Highlanders Football Club Technical Advisor (2001).

Highlanders; This is very painful

The current executive committee did a good job under the circumstances. They played their part well.
The late Colonel James Mangwana (Mangwana) Tshuma (MHSRIP) was the best, his work ethics and vision inspired many, and this executive committee should have taken a leaf.

Highlanders, being a big team, have a purpose whose arrival time is here. The greater Bosso family cannot sit and watch. The team has to come back. Have we forgotten the Black and White road shows of old? With loud music and the get downs? Why the clowning now?

Accepting to be average and mediocrity has seen trophies and championships slip through the fingers. Since when has the Cathedral of Football known as BF become a slaughterhouse of Amahlolanyama?

Tshilamoya has become an ordinary name. This is the year to take the team back, to set the standards. Bosso sets the standards and the pace and others follow. attended. The previous executive committee carried the aspirations and pride of the legion of followers, supporters and fans. They could have done much better.

The feeling of betrayal and abuse from the elected leaders is not easy to bear. The apathy of members in such important meetings and elections is as huge a concern.

The attitude of the team comes from the fans who take things for granted and that is gross. The team is supreme and people must respect the Club, the black and white colours, the stadium and the culture of winning.

It is Bosso's right to rule and rule it shall, and it is not a privilege. Less commitment to people’s responsibilities leads to the same attitude in team. Where is your passion? Highlanders F.C are not just a name, a team, a club or a personal property. It is a way of life. It is a lifestyle.

The fans are as guilty of the team’s performance. It is abuse to neglect renewing membership and paying subscriptions. That is criminal and must stop. Players put hours in the game and are blamed and yet supporters put nothing and they throw the first stones.

Cheap talk of fans made Bosso a vehicle of failure, a laughing stock. It must never be. One cannot expect the best from the team if they are not applying the best themselves. Attending meetings and voting wisely will eliminate the management problems. How many people attend and vote and how many cry foul?

People painted their dogs, houses, bicycles and regalia black and white. Many lost their lives for the team. (Their souls rest in eternal peace.) There are people who have lost families and relationships.

There are people who have no identity for the sake of the team. Some people are called Highlander, Bosso or Mantengwane and then you find the lack of seriousness going on in the club. No one is asking Mangwana Tshuma to rise up from the grave, or Zenzo Moyo and Thulani Ncube to don the
black and white shirts and play.

They did their part. The fans and executive must deliver and it is demanded of everyone involved. Bring the respect of the team back. Let the team bring fear to the foes.

Little teams now do not respect the team. They crawl left and right to touch the Bosso genitals willy-nilly. That must end and the bug must stops with you.

VIOLENCE...the bits and pieces each of us can do..

The Bosso-Dembare match has come and gone. Of all the after effects of this epic clash, violence once again showed its ugly head and a few kilometres away from BF, a life in the name of Thembinkosi Hloli was lost. My take on violence is that it must not be looked at in isolation just as a Highlanders and Dynamos problem.

 

A holistic approach to it is needed. I have witnessed violence not only at BF, but also at Mucheke, Rimuka, Tsholotsho and at Fairbridge. What needs to be addressed is not the result of it or the source, rather we should look at what causes violence in football stadia.

 

For a start I believe the fines the clubs are paying for violent misconduct of supporters will not in any way deter hooligans from throwing missiles in future, simply because the hooligans are not directly affected. The $2000 fine will come from the clubs and not the guys who threw empty bottles, who 99% of the times, came in free of charge, thanks to the corruption at the turnstiles.

Here proposed are a few measures for the Castle Lager PSL to adopt:
1. The PSL must move in with speed and introduce a seasonal ticketing system that does not only guarantee you entry but also a specific seat in the stadium. Once you are caught throwing missiles, your ticket must be cancelled and your seat as well.

The other benefit here is that a random seating system will demystify the issue of supporters seating according to camps. I have seen Kaiser Chiefs supporters seated next to Orlando Pirates fans. Also an identified hooligan must face the law and be banned from football.

2. PSL and referees must act seriously on players who incite violence through (a) provokative goal celebration. (b) feigning of injuries. (c)) mobbing of match officials by technical team etc. This is how Europe and England particularly have tammed hooliganism. Provocation and insinuation are biggest sources of violence.

3. Monitoring of perfomance of match officials by the relevant committee.

4. Club Marshals must be well equipped through radio communication to aid the police to flush out and identify any possible troublemakers.

5. A proffesional police force that does not pride itself in teargas, but in good crowd control measures. Police should also not be supporters, at least for 90 minutes, not only face the crowd, but be within the crowds as well.

Historically, the use of teargas and antiriot dogs invokes bad memories in any society and as police can be sure to meet some missiles thrown back at them in frustration.

6. The stadia should be evacuation-friendly for players and fans. This will lessen the tendency to use teargas to disperse people as not everyone is a hooligan and as such must be protected.

7. TOLERANCE...worst case scenario, I should be my brother's keeper and ensure he is not a hooligan.

8. Supporter education by both clubs and PSL is necessary. Football is only a sport with 3 possible outcomes and such messages have to hit the fans through sms platforms, Tv and newspaper adverts. Police, team leaders, captains and supporters must be used in this drive.

9. Clubs must embrace supporters associations. One benefit of such groups is that they tend to do things as a group. This includes sitting in one bay together as a chapter. It becomes easy therefore for supporters to control and identify bad apples amongst themselves e.t.c. I belong to a Highlanders Facebook group that does not tolerate nonsense among its members. Errant members are either blocked or reprimanded.

These are but a few measures to help curb this ugly monster called violence in football. (By Victor November.)

The late Thembinator Hloli has since been laid to rest, with Bosso supporters through the said Facebook group assisting with cash, kind, a Vuvuzela for our deceased brother and a BIG Bosso flag with a farewell message specifically dedicated to him.The flag covered his coffin from his Sizinda home to his final resting place in Lower Gwelo.

The whole Highlanders FC team led by Ndumiso Gumede , Kelvin Kaindu, Mike Mathe and captain Innocent Mapuranga had descended upon Hloli family home to pay their last respects to my beloved fan. Gumede preached the gospel of oneness and peace.

Is this not supposed to be the beautiful game? Hoping to hear your opinions about what the world should do to curb football violence.

Amazing unity following the death of Thembelenkosini Hloli (MHSRIP)

Extreme levels of violence following the Highlanders versus Dynamos match in Bulawayo's Barbourfields Stadium claimed a young live of a fan, Thembelenkosini Hlobi. May his soul rest in eternal peace. Here is a Meluleki Moyo's narration of events after other concerned Bosso fans heard the news and decided to intervene. The article includes Facebook comments up to the time of this release.

As proposed and agreed in this group,today I visited the family of the late Thembelenkosini Hloli in Sizinda. Mqondisi Malunga accompanied me.We presented ourselves as representatives of a Facebook Page group of Bosso fans based locally and internationally.In our presentation we made specific mention of Isaac Mbedzi as being the group leader.

We told them that Mbedzi is the one who sent Bosso those Canadians who were around early in the year. We told Hloli and those on our round 'table' that we are staunch Bosso fans who travel as far as Harare,Hwange and Triangle.We told him we and the rest of the Bosso fraternity was sharing the grief of the loss of their son.

We told them that tho we were not blood relatives and tho we did not know Thembelenkosini in person,as soon as somebody puts on that black and white uniform he becomes our spiritual brother. Bab'uHloli is one of those stately looking soft spoken African men probably aged close to 70. He told us his opinions on the death of his son.

His version differed slightly from those on the FB pages. He told us that there were messages from his son's fone sent after his son's death.I won't go into that because I consider that to be part of police evidence. Meanwhile,the otherwise strong looking old man seemed rather perplexed by his son's death.

The least I can say was that somebody in the discussion mentioned that Thembelenkosini was repeatedly shown on the TV screens wearing his Bosso overalls when Bosso played Dembare at the NSS in Harare, two months back. I could tell that the old man at this stage is prepared to consider a conspiracy theory to the effect that his son's death was pre-planned.

Don't get me wrong, I'm just stating the state of perplexion that the old man is going through. Meanwhile we advised him that we want to assist in anyway possible now and possibly in the coming days. We asked for a family Ecocash account and we were given that of her daughter Hlengiwe. Hloli has other sons.The youngest is Alphonce. He spent time with us.His elder son is named Phineas but joined us late because he was busy with funeral arrangements.

Mqo and I only had two packs of Cremora (the Bosso milk).When we discovered that Alphonce had no airtime, we fowarded $5 to him because according to him, it is wrong for the young man not to have airtime-at such a time as this.This we did in front of everyone there so that if they have to make urgent calls they know who to go to.

Meanwhile, there was a reasonable number of pple at the funeral wake and one thing that we picked was that Phineas was busy searching for a vehicle to transport mourners to the funeral. Hloli wants his son's body to travel tomorrow after the post mortem but some nurses suggested that it may be difficult because coming from a holiday as we are, there shall be too many bodies undergoing post mortems tomorrow.

The body may therefore travel on Thursday. I promised the Hloli family that I'll get them a Bosso flag tomorrow to accompany their son to his resting place. Naturally, umdala uHloli expressed his gratefulness. Meanwhile, the news of Thembelenkosini's passing on was broken to the nation by a friend of his by the name of Wellington Samadalinja.

We visited him and invited him to be one of the representatives of the Hloli family together with Alphonce here in our FB Bosso Supporters' page. Samadalinja has since become an FB friend of both Mqondisi and I. I'll recommend him to be added as a member of this page.Thembelenkosini Hloli's death perplexed his family such that some of the questions they are asking about their son are contrary to what we've read on FB.

The young man who died for the 'sins' of Highlanders and its fans will be laid to rest in Chief Sogwala's area of Lower Gwelo. Their homestead is 60 kimometres from the city of Gweru. May Thembinator's soul rest in eternal peace!

Miges Miguel akalale ngokuThula. sibonga kakhulu uMusa lokusifikel khona. Akuhlale kunjalo


Tshepo Mabalane Mabalane Yaze yabuhlungu lendaba. Makalale ngoxolo umfowethu lemuli yakwaHloli ithi ukududuzeka. Alwehlanga lungehlanga. Siyabonga Moyo loMalunga ngomsebenzi omkhulu elithe lawenza. Ukwanda kwaliwa ngabathakathi.


Moeketsi Ncube thanx bhudi ukusimela ekukhaleni kanye labanye ngesikhathi esinzima esisehleyo.R.I.P young Hloli


Ndo Dk amen inkosi ibenaye isivikele nathi


Victor November Thanx for the visit to the Hlolis on our behalf.Give us the ecocash number and we see what to do henceforth.Siyabonga madoda


Michael Mdladla Ndiweni Siyabonga bafowethu.


Mkhumbulo Uzokdubula Sbhamusenyon Alwehlanga lungehlanga, abaduduzeke abakoHloli bethembele kuMdali , !


Mlamuli Mhlaba Nkomo RIP

Busani M J Malinga Siyabonga bhudi, kalale ngoxolo umfowethu


Sehlie Majamela Ngeleza kwaze kwakubuhlungu shuwa kalale ngokuthula umfowethu kunzima kakhulu


Mbongeni Hlathi Mlilo sibonga guyz for the great work...may he RIP.


Nodumo Nyathi Meluleki Moyo please post the ecocash number kusetshenzwe madoda..kalale ngoxolo umfowethu..siyabonga Mqondisi Malunga Meluleki Moyo ngokuyasimela ....Lathi singabantu..ngokuzwa kwami indaba ebekwe nguMeluleki its clear usizo luyafuneka bafethu....


Meluleki Moyo Will give u Hlengiwe's ecocash number when Wellington Samadalinja has been added to this group.Meanwhile,I call on group administrators to remove inflammatory posts about Thembelihle.Let's hope everything will be ready tomorrow.


Nqo Mguza Good job guys!! Good job indeed. This is exactly what we need in this group, less talk and more action.


Willard Khanye Thanx meluleki


Busani Tshuma Maqumbaqaleke Lala ngoxolo mfowethu


Isaac Mbedzi Ibuhlungu kakhulu indaba leyi njalo ngiyalihlonipha Moyo lo Malunga ngokuyimela indaba leyi and even lokuza in public and confirm umsebenzi wonke lamabizo abantu asebenzileyo.Liyenze elikubona kumele kwenziwe njalo lathi kumele siphathise ngendlela yakhona ,mina ngeke ngithi ngiyikokheli ye group kodwa ngizazama ngezenzo ukuthi sizame ukuncedisa here and there lokufika kubo ngingafika.Tse Ndex labo Nqaba Donga are the rightful leaders of the group.Kodwa lo umsebenzi oqondane lemfa leyi ngizawusebenza .Let his soul rest in eternal peace.




Wonder Chikanya Thank you gentlemen. Yisibonelo esihle leso iNkosi mayilibusise.


Mehluli Tshuks Ngwiza Rest in peace my home boy.


Isaac Mbedzi Abakwanisayo okwakhathesi asincedeni madoda .


Nodumo Nyathi Meluleki Moyo. Mqondisi Malunga. fakani inumber boooooo


BraNqo Ndlovu Thank you so much Melu, tears are flowing freely down my face as I type this. God bless you for the commitment, for taking your time, we are grateful, as a collective. Let those of us here at home flood that number eachj $10, $20, whatever we can spare and cannot, will certainly go a long way, from what you have so eloquently portrayed, in terms of the needs of the family. Lina elioutside, I think as I suggested and there wa sno objection, can uBhudi Nodumo maybe provide or arrange a way, or the family might have someone they would rather use in SA etc, angazi Meluleki Moyo, Tse Ndex, Nqaba Donga, Isaac Mbedzii, Mqondisi Malunga and all of you guys, what do you say regarding donations and contributions from outside zim?


Vusumuzi Sibanda Its never a good thing that a parent buries his or her child. As a parent I would prefer that my son bury me. May his soul rest in peace bakithi.


Nodumo Nyathi Mina my account in SA available and wil send the cash at my cost. Meluleki Moyo pliz chat with Wellington and ask if they have someone in SA who can give us their account number and we deposit.if not Admins accepting i can avail my account number and cash b sent say latest Thursday morning


Abell Moyo thnks bafethu job well done ayisoze ibulawe


Tse Ndex May His Soul Rest in Eternal Peace


Noel Munzabwa guys we should emerge stronger and united thanks to those who paid our tributes to the family


BraNqo Ndlovu Thina esisekhaya we are then going to be sorted in terms of ecocash and so forth, guys we cannot begin to be enough help for the family. Can we feel some movement too, some action, from those in SA and maybe the UK and Canada etc? Let us show true unity of purpose and show the enemy, yes, I mean it like that, the enemy, however wena individually you take it, that we can stand as one. we can stand together, singazihlekisi ngabo.


Isaac Mbedzi Nodumo Nyathi yenza njalo atleast kube le something.


Ben Ndlovu This is sad. Siyabonga baba Moyo


Meluleki Moyo The gud news is that,it's now official,the entire Bosso team visited the Hloli family.They were at the Hloli home just after 6pm today.Infact a Bosso official-the Hlolis say CEO Gumede visited them earlier in the day.Their Sizinda address is 67039/2.It's close to the bar.I can now give u sis Hlengiwe Hloli's ecocash number.I'm asking every Bosso supporter who wants to use this number to talk to the Bosso officer so that it isofficialised. Hlengi's number is 0773 080 879


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  BraNqo Ndlovu As part of canvassing for donations to my 3000-plus friends, even if i get something from 10 only, may I please be allowed to copy and paste the post by Meluleki above? and Account details etc? Some people who have means and support not just Highlanders but football may feel like contributing, am hoping nje?
  
  
  Brighton Mandla Mpofu so sad
  19 mins · Like
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  Nodumo Nyathi Meluleki Moyo please post separate th number as a post.am sure asonkinga leyi no need to go to Bosso official. Hlengiwe uzabhala phansi amounts recieved asazise and then total gets posted kugroup ukuze sibongane kahle.kunjalo vele kuba lebhuku okubhalwa khona.yena uza recorder and update you and Mqondisi Malunga
  
  

Highlanders loses 0-1 to Dynamos and drops from the top

An over-psyched Highlanders FC faced a very nervous Dynamos in a Castle Lager Premier League match at Barbourfields Stadium, hoping to rectify a crooked record dating to 2006 against the arch-rivals. An immense amount of pressure in the first half counted for naught as Bosso fell to a sucker-punch just after a second half restart.

With less than 30 seconds played, Charles Sibanda set up Njabulo Ncube who took weak shot from close range. That chance came from left wing after fine run by the league’s best striker, who delivered a perfect cross for Ncube to squander. The match proved to be a good passing game by both sides, Highlanders taking the initiative to create and fluff golden chances due to pressure to perform against their nemesis.

The Bosso wingbacks exposed themselves to Dembare attacks as they flooded forward, but the coach rectified the situation by pushing midfielders wide and kept the defenders put. Generally, both teams’ first touches lacked quality and exposed the players to possible injuries and bad decision-making. The many long balls proved fatal as strikers wrestled with defenders to control the balls.

Picking up of the second ball was dominated by Mantengwane. Sibanda played an extremely mobile type of football, spurning glorious chances to bury the opposition. Calisto Pasuwa replaced Mbimba who failed to catch up with the pace and the rhythm of the game by Murape Murape. That move was the game changer and the tonic of the game that the visitors wanted.

Mapuranga was fried by his man on the left wing, let a cross come through into the box. Kangwa controlled the ball for Mutumwa to stab the ball from under the crossbar. That goal was enough to compound a miserable period in which Highlanders collected two out of twelve points.

Despite previous dropped points, Highlanders kept the top spot, but the defeat at home lowered them to third and it can be worse in the next few days. Despite an avalanche of clear-cut chances and a lion’s share of possession, Kelvin Kaindu’s boys flattered to deceive and came off with nothing.

The Zambian coach came under excessive pressure as fans began to blame him, his tactics and substitutions. The missed chances were squarely placed on his shoulders as the general of the team. Among the various schools of thought, the team’s predictability of the same style of play and formation le to an approach every team expected from Bosso.

A direct blame of inability to read the game and useless subbing times and material led the Bulawayo giant faithfuls to take stock of how they could turn a record of nine losses and seven draw in the two clubs’ last 16 matches.

There is even polite advise for Kelvin Kaindu, that this was due time to pack the bags as he had tried his best which was seen as not enough. One fan praised his professionalism, believing that the gaffer sees the need to hand the button to a man with new tactics and ideas.

Kaindu received criticism of removing an ‘attacking box to box player in Manhanga’ with a defensive midfielder in Ndiweni when the team needed offensive power. The criticism extended to the reliance of the misfiring Njabulo Ncube, a tool whose antidote was a three men central defence.

The bitter pill to swallow, despite the loss of the points, the drop from the log summit and losing a match to direct rivals, is that the loss was to Dynamos. Winning the championship starts with victory over fellow contenders.

The biggest argument came when many defended him for assembling a good team that failed to convert easy chances and conceded the softest goal. Many think he should be coaching boys basic technique at senior level as others thought Sibanda and Njabulo should know what to do by now.

The truth, all emotion aside, is that technique training starts at the age of 6 and ontinues throughout the career of the professional. At this stage of the league, it should be forming a great part of the sessions. However, even the best have a bad day. If that day came against Dynamos, who is there to take the blame but the coach.

Kaindu has few men at his corner. Those baying for his blood do not know what they are talking about. The bearers of that thought based it on the unfortunate players who failed to convert chances that Kaindu drilled them through in training. The perpetrators were the players and KK the victim. The players let the coach down.

The tense and desperate situation created by the loss brought to the fore the fact that the buck stopped with the coach as no coach ever saved his job by arguing that players are missed chances. Despite the good effort in today’s match, the players’ lacked the die-hard spirit resulting in faulting and lapse in concentration.

Taking a punch in the chin and accepting defeat because the players failed to take chances never went well with many who looked at this one opportunity that looked promising until that fateful kick that punished an otherwise better team in terms of possession.

The day’s victors leapfrogged Bosso together with league debutants, ZPC Kariba FC, as Highlanders’ goal drought steadily swells to four matches. The superstitious began to blame the ground against Dynamos as it became the Harare’s fruitful ground, while others think that Saturday never favoured the black and white outfit side. There could be truth that an opportunity to take Dynamos to Luveve where they have always lost could have brought different results.

The saddest part of that game, was that it had become a fixture charged with emotion and the stakes became higher given the connotations of the results. At whatever level and for whatever reason, a match against Dynamos is bigger than the rewards. Any coach entrusted with the club has a fans mandate to beat Dynamos.

That failure to do so suddenly makes Kaindu a bad coach. The available players performed below par in crucial areas and at vital moments, as any play can have a bad day, and in this case, a single moment.

The desperate nature of the desired result makes the next fixture against the champions even harder for Kaindu or his successor. The players will try harder and fare dismally. To add salt to injury, the fans will be frustrated and throw missiles in the ground and cause fines that will milk the club dry.

That alone will incapacitate the club to get better players and increased performances to dismantle the Dynamos machine. If fans and supporters can throw missiles in the field of play, surely, players are entitled to miss those chances. If that barbarism is cool, what crime is there in not scoring a goal?

Highlanders lose crucial points to Bantu as Dynamos blast Caps

Highlanders Football Club failed to score for the first time at Barbourfields Stadium this season when they locked horns with city rivals, Bantu Rovers. Bosso played a subdued match, coming under excessive pressure in a match many consider the fading giant lucky to come out with a point.

Bantu Rovers did their homework and dominated the match as they exploited the left wing where Bosso were found wanting. The Highlanders defence fought hard to deal with a Bantu striker and could not construct a move to open their opponents defence. The stalemate favoured Bantu as it was a point gained while Amahlolanyama would consider two points lost.

Dynamos came from behind to score twice in the second half. Caps United had taken an early lead but failed to stretch that lead out of reach for the Harare rivals. The Green Machine wasted numerous first half chances and they were punished in the later stages of the match.

It took a few minutes for the equaliser to come as poor marking characterised Caps defence. The goalkeeper was also at fault as he came off the goal-line for an acrobatic atempt to fly past his head.

Lack of pressure on the ball and lousy marking sealed the Dembare victory as a deflected shot was not cleared by the defenders. The second attempt whistled past the goalkeeper into the net to seal the victory.

Highlanders’ lead on the  Castle Lager Premier Soccer League table was reduced to a single point.