‘Ariel still a Bosso player’

Innocent Kurira, Sports Reporter
HIGHLANDERS have still not received any official communication from their longest-serving player and skipper Ariel Sibanda, who posted on Facebook more than a week ago that he was quitting Bosso.

The 32-year-old didn’t state any reasons for “leaving”, but it is reportedly linked to non-payment of players’ salaries for the past three months and the club’s executive’s reluctance to give them a US$100 pay increase.

He has been linked with a move to either Ngezi Platinum Stars or Bulawayo Chiefs.

Asked if Sibanda had communicated his desire to leave the club, Highlanders chief executive officer Nhlanhla Dube said:

“It’s an internal issue. Our response is always that we speak to the person in question. Sometimes it’s not like you have seen it in spaces for various reasons, but for confidentiality and fairness we will not comment on that right now save to say that Ariel is our captain and is a player who is dedicated to Highlanders. He is well respected and we keep that mutual respect with him within the club,” said Dube.

Bosso have been going through a difficult time with the club failing to pay players, resulting in a number of them threatening to walk out.

Highlanders’ players and technical team reportedly received their last salaries in May.

The players embarked on industrial action twice this year; the first during the Chibuku Super Cup when they refused to train and the recent sit-in at the club offices where they sought audience with chairman Johnfat Sibanda. – @innocentskizoe