Innocent Kurira
HIGHLANDERS may be turning 100, but the big question is whether Bosso will survive to see another century, and supporters are being challenged to put their money where their love is.
With players going unpaid, industrial action disrupting the season and several stars reportedly preparing to leave, the country’s oldest football club is facing a financial crisis that threatens to overshadow its centenary celebrations.
The death of benefactor Wicknell Chivayo has further raised fears about where the next financial lifeline will come from, forcing a difficult question on the Bosso faithful: is it time for the fans to save their own club before it is too late?
For a team whose identity is built on a massive and passionate following, the answer may lie in turning match-day loyalty into a reliable source of income.
Popular supporter Mayibongwe “Mgijimi” Mkhweli believes fans can no longer afford to sit back and wait for another wealthy benefactor.
“The team seems to be heading for difficult times, but I think it is a sign that it is now time as fans we took the responsibility of making sure the team doesn’t die. It is now the onus of fans to come together and try to save the team. Surely, fans can come together and make sure the players are paid,” he said.
But Bosso’s challenge is not necessarily a shortage of supporters. It is getting them to participate financially and take an active role in the club’s affairs.
Highlanders are believed to have about 4 000 official members, yet attendance at club meetings has reportedly hovered around 300 during election periods and fallen below 200 at other meetings.
The gap between the club’s enormous following and its active membership has raised questions about whether supporters can build a dependable financial safety net.
Evans “Referee WeBosso” Chigona believes unity among the leadership is crucial in mobilising fans and attracting sponsors.
“Starting from the board to the executive, there must be a united front so that we work to get a serious sponsor. For us fans, it might look embarrassing that supporters are now paying players, but I think it is something that we have to start doing now,” he said.
Mlungisi Dube believes the centenary should mark the beginning of a new approach to keeping the club afloat.
“There is a saying, ‘Ayisoze ife thina sikhona.’ I think it is now time we found a solution to our own problems. I believe, with the help and leadership of our executives, we can come up with measures that ensure every supporter of this club is contributing financially.
“I know there will be issues to do with trust in terms of how the money is kept and used, but at this stage that should not be a priority,” he said.
Sibongile Masuku said supporters could also help by buying membership cards, creating another revenue stream for the financially troubled club.
“I can never imagine the club going down. Something has to give. The leadership has to deliver something. As fans who claim to love this club, we must also carry the burden.
“People must buy cards and become members. That is another source of revenue, but because people don’t want to do that, we are also missing out on another revenue stream,” she said.
However, while supporters may be willing to contribute, the club’s leadership must provide transparent financial controls and regular updates to build confidence in how the money is managed.
Fans can help keep Bosso alive, but they cannot be expected to shoulder the burden indefinitely.
Highlanders must also find serious sponsors, manage resources prudently and develop a sustainable financial model that does not depend on the generosity of one individual.
As the club celebrates a century of existence, the rallying cry from its supporters is clear: Ayisoze ife
— but keeping Bosso alive will require more than singing from the terraces.
