Vusumuzi Dube
Lovemore Dube, Sports Correspondent
THABO Zikode Khumalo, the great grandson of Highlanders Football Club founding player Albert, would like some day to play for the team to perpetuate his family legacy.
His great grandfather Albert and Rhodes, the sons of Njube who was King Lobengula’s son were among a group of young men who formed Highlanders FC in 1926. Their father Ndumiso was the son of Nduna who was born to Albert and Mamkhwebude. Albert had other children outside marriage.
The club was initially called Lions FC and wore red and later changed to Matabeleland Highlanders FC in 1927.
At the instigation of the late Vice President Joshua Nkomo in 1975, Highlanders dropped Matabeleland as it incited tribal differences among football family members. It was at a critical stage of the liberation struggle when unity was needed for a bigger push towards Independence.
Speaking at an introductory function to family and media, Thabo said it would be an honour to play for Highlanders.
Thabo plays for Tongaat FC in South Africa’s lower leagues and has had stints with Orlando Pirates, Free State Stars, Bloemfontein Celtics and once trained at British side Fullham.
The South Africa-based player (27) said he has been following the club for the last year after his elder brother, Thando brought it to his attention that their grandfather founded one of Southern Africa’s biggest clubs.
“I have been following the club for the past seven months to a year. This was after my brother told me that our family has a history with the club. I follow the team on its Facebook page. It would be an honour to play for it,” said Thabo whose contract with the Thekwini sugar giant football side ends soon.
“Very soon my contract will be up, we are left with three games. If they pay me I will come and play for Highlanders, I would not mind playing here for the last half of the season and take it from there,” said Thabo who is in Zimbabwe for the first time.
Thabo is visiting Zimbabwe with his elder brother Thando and they were in the company of their cousin brother Fortune whose father Charles was the eldest of Albert’s children. He can play as a winger, midfielder or striker and played with Zimbabwean footballer Cleopas Dube during the 2021/22 season.
Thabo who was born after his father’s death in 1996 and was raised in Soweto by his paternal side, uses his mother’s surname. The three Khumalos are expected to watch Highlanders’ clash with Hwange FC this afternoon.
The princes’ aunt, Nomsa, said the three were visiting their extended family in Zimbabwe.
“Thando last came here when he was a small boy before his father passed on. It’s been a while and we are happy to have them here in Zimbabwe,” said Nomsa.
Thando said it was cultural and spiritually fulfilling to be visiting home.
“Being in Zimbabwe is both cultural and spiritually fulfilling. Coming down here and meeting extended family has made us put some missing gaps. There was indeed disconnect between us and the family here, now a lot of things are making sense, lots of dots are being connected, it brings closure to a number of questions. It’s a relief meeting aunts and uncles, it’s life,” said the 37-year-old.
Fortune, whose father is Charles, Albert’s second born said he would be accompanying his cousins and aunts to a family home in Gwatemba, Insiza District this morning before heading to the Highlanders clash with Hwange in the city. — Follow on Twitter @lovdube
Bongani Ndlovu