Online Reporter
Fungai Muderere, Zimpapers Sports Hub
HIGHLANDERS Football Club have never been shy about carrying the weight of their history, yet the club now wants its centenary to feel bigger than anything it has staged before.
The celebrations head into 2026 with a bold plan to take the party beyond Zimbabwe’s borders, turning the milestone into a global moment for every fan who has ever claimed the black and white.
That ambition was laid out by Elkanah Dube, the Highlanders Supporters Centenary Celebrations subcommittee chairman, during the club’s Corporate Breakfast Launch on Wednesday. Dube, a former club secretary and vice-chairman, said the decision emerged from a series of meetings in which the supporters’ subcommittee mapped out a packed programme and identified the pillars that will guide the entire commemoration.
“Inclusivity and diversity to ensure all fans feel welcome and included in celebrating the club’s diversity and promoting equality. Community outreach, engagement with communities and fans through events, is what we came up with,” said Dube.
He said they intend to create unforgettable experiences for supporters, with communication playing a central role. Social media, email and official club platforms will carry constant updates as the calendar unfolds.
“We will also have volunteer engagement that will see us mobilise supporters to volunteer, contributing to the celebrations and fostering a sense of ownership,” said Dube.
He added that members’ chapters in Zimbabwe and abroad will anchor much of the interaction.
A first roadshow will roll out soon to build momentum for the 22 December Centenary Celebrations launch, followed by a second one that ushers in the 2026 festivities early next February.
The most ambitious leg arrives later in the year.
“The third road show will coincide with the Global Tour organised by the Dubai, UK, North America and South Africa chapters and focusing on rejuvenating and strengthening existing synergies with the corporate world as well as creating new ones. The proposed date is August 2026. There will also be an inter-club chapters Sports Gala involving a variety of sporting disciplines such as football, netball, basketball and volleyball. Budget is still to be worked out with chapters using the guidelines by the Fundraising, Sponsorship and Partnerships Subcommittees,” said Dube.
The theme, “Beyond Football: Inspiring Generations, celebrating a passion driven century rooted in pride, culture and football,” reflects what the club hopes the next year will become: a moment of pride, a reunion of identities and a statement of how deep Bosso’s roots run.
With the City of Kings and Queens standing firmly behind them, Highlanders want their 100th year to be remembered long after the banners come down. The club was founded in 1926 by Albert and Rhodes Khumalo, grandsons of King Lobengula.
A century later, the story continues to unfold, carried by generations who treat the black and white not just as colours, but as a legacy that refuses to fade.
