Bosso fans plan second fundraiser

CALLS for a second Highlanders FC fundraiser are gaining momentum on social media with organisers confirming plans for another event at the Clubhouse.

Highlanders fans are being urged to congregate at the Clubhouse instead of attending the team’s next league game against GreenFuel.

The Premier Soccer League (PSL) is yet to confirm MatchDay 31 dates, but Highlanders fans are already planning another fundraiser.

Ezra “Tshisa” Sibanda, a Highlanders FC member who led the first event, said: “As Highlanders fans, our season is over. We’ll continue our fundraisers until the PSL governors address the crisis. It’s unfair to pay for matches with predetermined outcomes. Our money will go directly to the club.”

The club last week confirmed the first fundraiser raised US$9 900.

“We’re overwhelmed with gratitude! Thank you to our amazing fans. Your support means the world to us,” the club said.

A total of US$5 934 was raised from gate takings at the clubhouse where about 1 785 people turned up. Additional money came from UK Chapter (US$970), South Africa Chapter (US$707), Harare Chapter (US$610), Victoria Falls Chapter (US$317), Botswana Chapter (US$250), Beitbridge Chapter (US$243), AmaNdebele ase UK (US$221), Gweru Chapter (US$190), Hwange Chapter (US$119), Dubai Chapter (US$105), Poland (US$100), Cowdray Park (US$34), Donations (US$100).

Of interest was that a group of Dynamos supporters also bought tickets to support their traditional rivals.
Highlanders’ fans and members suggested a boycott of the Bosso versus ZPC Kariba match as a protest against the club’s ill-treatment in local football.

The club has been many stakeholders’ cash cow, including opposition teams, ZRP, Zifa, PSL and local authorities.

This was after a match against Simba Bhora where a dubiously awarded penalty resulted in the match not running its 90 minutes following Highlanders’ refusal to have the spot kick taken.

Match officials Cecil Gwezera and Zondzi Ngosana were subsequently suspended for six weeks after the Bosso outcry, the following morning.

This was also fuelled by television replays that exposed that the referee was far from the action and at a poor angle to have a better view of what was happening.

The assistant referee was also found wanting in terms of his position at the time of the incident. The incident took place outside the penalty area.

However, Highlanders were fined and booted out of the Chibuku Super Cup competition for causing the abandonment of the match in protest of the penalty.

—@innocentskizoe