Lovemore Dube, [email protected]
HIGHLANDERS left for Ngezi Platinum yesterday morning with coach Benjani Mwaruwari excused so that he attends the funeral of philanthropist Wicknell Chivayo in Harare today.
There were efforts made to have the match pulled off but the club was unsuccessful.
The reason for seeking the postponement was that Highlanders have not trained for 24 days and entering the Ngezi Platinum den unfit could be a disaster.
Today’s match at Baobab Stadium was rescheduled to allow the Kuzana SCEEZ and Highlanders 100 Years Celebration match against Dynamos at Barbourfields Stadium to take place on Sunday.
The match a collaboration between the Ministry of Sport, the organisers and partners of the on-going expo Nhimbe Trust, has turned out to be the biggest mass event on the celebrations calendar.
Highlanders and Dynamos enjoy fierce rivalry that even in friendly matches is laid bare judging from passionate big crowds the two teams attract.
Highlanders chairman Kindman Ndlovu confirmed that they had sought to have the match postponed because of Chivayo’s funeral.
“We were unable to get our wish. We are going to send members of the executive and board to attend the funeral. We have also freed our coach Benjani Mwaruwari to attend. The club is going to play against Ngezi Platinum and as I speak to you they are on their way there.
“I can assure members that we have engaged ourselves in talking to players individually. We have paid part of what we owe them. We have never stopped engaging and working on their welfare issues. We want to work together to advance the badge and their careers which is our commitment as management,” said Ndlovu.
When players heard that Chivayo had availed US$250 000, they wanted all to be spent on their outstanding salaries hence they boycotted training.
Ndlovu said what the players should appreciate is that the club has other commitments critical to its operations that also require money.
“We are not being insincere to their plight but we try to do as much as we can to meet our financial obligations.There is pressure to clear debts including the players’ outstanding salaries. As management we are working hard to mobilise the required resources to clear these debts,” said Ndlovu.
Highlanders players have been unhappy since the beginning of the year and have been boycotting training to force management to clear their outstanding salaries.
With the season coming to an end soon, many players may leave to seek greener pastures due to unpaid salaries and signing on fees.
Under Mwaruwari, the club has shown potential but the issue of boycotting training has been the major stumbling block.
