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Ricky Zililo, Senior Sports Reporter
AN aura of belief is blowing through Highlanders Football Club’s family, with all the facets of the institution — leadership, players and supporters uniting to push for happy days.
It is not surprising that Highlanders, who have had a better start to their campaign as compared to the 2021/22 championship are enjoying an early season crest performance both on and off the field.
Bosso are defying odds, their 2-1 impressive win against champions FC Platinum that ended a nine-year winless jinx took Highlanders’ points tally to seven points after three matches, six points clear compared to what they had amassed at this stage last season.
Sunday’s historic win against FC Platinum was watched by an 11 046 paying crowd.
The majority of the fans that were at Barbourfields Stadium for Bosso’s match against FC Platinum were Highlanders supporters.
Ariel Sibanda, Highlanders’ captain said Bosso fans won them the game against FC Platinum and made an impassionate plea to their followers to keep on rallying behind them as they battle for better fortunes.
Ariel Sibanda
“I’ll be honest, and this is what every team member knows, our supporters won us the game against FC Platinum. The supporters were just wonderful, they were fantastic and we felt the love as they spurred us on. If they keep coming to the stadium, and we keep concentrating on our football while they rally behind us, something positive might come up,” said Sibanda.
Highlanders, who have gone for 17 years without a league title will be away to Chicken Inn on Good Friday.
The Bosso skipper declined to be drawn into the championship topic.
“At this stage of the season we can’t talk about that (championship). It will be reckless of us to do so because this is a marathon. What we just need to do, alongside our supporters is to enjoy the good we’re in together and take it game by game,” said Sibanda.
Last season, in the build-up to their clash with Chicken Inn which ended 2-2, Highlanders’ management took a bold decision to live within their means as they cut winning bonuses by half when reality sunk that a top-four finish was beyond their reach.
To their credit, Highlanders’ management seem to be doing things differently, as they decided to play ball and keep their players motivated by paying them their Black Rhinos win bonuses before the game against FC Platinum.
The agreement between management and players is that winning bonuses for away games are paid after the club has played their home match. In this case, the players would have received their bonuses after the FC Platinum game, but the leadership decided to motivate them by paying before the encounter.
“We appreciate efforts made by management which allows us to concentrate on our games. This is why I’m saying that if we all play our parts as Highlanders family, management, supporters and us as players, then we can keep enjoying. This is not to say that there won’t be challenges along the way, but if we are united we can sail through any storm,” Sibanda said.
About their opening five games being difficult, Highlanders’ vice-captain Mbongeni Ndlovu said there is an element of belief within their camp.
“Its people out there who are saying our opening games are difficult, to us, every game is a challenge meaning that all the 34 games are difficult. However, we believe in our capabilities, everyone is working hard to take in the coaches’ instructions so that we improve with every game.
“Right now our focus is on the next game, we are looking forward to the Chicken Inn game and being a derby, it’s a tricky one,” Ndlovu said. — @ZililoR
Online Reporter