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“We acknowledge receipt of your letter dated November 26th 2012 concerning your request to engage Highlanders FC in Caf Interclubs Competitions.
“However, we would like to inform you that this request will be submitted to the Bureau of Interclubs Committee on 9 December 2012.
“Meanwhile, in order to reserve your right to engage your teams before 30 November 2012, you are kindly requested to send us the following before the mentioned deadline:
l The 4 teams engaged in case of approval of Caf Organising Committee to engage Highlanders FC.
l The 4 teams engaged in case of rejection of Caf Organising Committee to engage Highlanders FC,” wrote Nassar to Mashingaidze.
Mashingaidze said they have since written to the PSL to submit names of the clubs which they would forward to Caf before Friday’s deadline.
The boob to register Bosso for last year’s continental competition could deny a promising crop of Highlanders players a chance to play in Africa and rob the club of possible good revenue upon reaching the mini league stage.
The national football mother body has made several fervent appeals to Cairo but the Issa Hayatou-presided institution has characteristically refused to budge. If the appeal is turned down next month, Bosso will not feature in any of the Caf competitions until expiry of their ban in 2015.
Highlanders are in the dark about their appeal.
“The truth of the matter is that we have not received any official form of communication from Zifa with regards to the Caf ban. We have read in the media about the appeal Zifa has made. We wait for Zifa to advise us accordingly,” said Highlanders chairman Peter Dube.
Besides even if Caf were to say Highlanders are eligible, it might be too late for the club to get sponsorship guarantees.
Highlanders finished the 2012 domestic season second on the log tied on 69 points with champions Dynamos and lost out on superior goal difference.
Their position guarantees them a Caf Champions League slot as Zimbabwe has two slots for the mega-rich competition and as many for the Caf Confederation Cup.
Despite a spirited season that saw the former champions under Zambian expatriate coach Kelvin Kaindu, amass 69 points after winning 20 games, nine draws and losing once to Monomotapa in Harare, all their efforts can go up in smoke.
Most Highlanders’ players are looking forward to representing the club at the continental competition which is a better platform that exposes them to scouts and sponsorship opportunities.
Missing out in competing in Africa will definitely be a big blow to young and ambitious Highlanders coach Kaindu and chairman Dube who never stayed at the club to accompany them in their maiden campaign in 2000. Coincidentally, Kaindu was part of the team that won the 1998/99 Castle Lager League but left in the early stages for his native Zambia following a contractual disagreement and injury.
Dube on the other hand, had a fallout with a section of the Highlanders board and members and opted not to run for the secretary’s post against Kennedy Ndebele who won three championships with the club between 2000-2002.
Last September, the Zifa president Cuthbert Dube told this publication that his association was working on having the ban reversed following a meeting he held with the Caf president Hayatou at a Caf general meeting in Seychelles.
Dube said he explained that Bosso was in 2011 registered without their consent as Zifa wanted to beat the deadline. Despite qualifying for African club football competition, Highlanders opted out because of financial constraints.
Dube said they were asked to write a letter again to Caf and the competitions commission of the continent and the issue would be on the agenda of the next meeting and Zifa were hopeful that the matter will get due recognition and the three-year ban lifted.
“Hayatou said we should write an appeal letter to them and the issue will definitely come for consideration at the next meeting. They are sympathetic to our cause and the position Highlanders find themselves in.
“We want the team to play in Africa. It would be good for the youngsters who have had a good year to be rewarded at the end of the day and there is no better platform for them than playing at that level that offers them a wider audience of talent scouts and sponsorship opportunities,” Dube was quoted saying.
Online Reporter