Bosso strike continues

The club owes them winning bonuses for their wins against Shabanie Mine, Hwange and Black Mambas. This publication has it on good authority that a winning bonus for each game is $275 and this means that Highlanders owe their players $14 850.

Kelvin Kaindu, the Highlanders’ gaffer who had gone home to Zambia on private business when the strike started, was forced to cancel the team’s training session yesterday as less than 10 players were at the club office, sitting in the team bus.

Sources say the players on Monday went to Hillside for their training but when they got there they refused to train demanding to be paid all their outstanding money.

According to sources, some members of the technical team are behind the industrial action. They have been heard in public places criticising management and dismissing the probe into the club’s finances despite the fact that the preliminary investigations results have revealed massive irregularities.

“This is a difficult time for me to comment about our coming game because of the situation (strike) we have. We missed last week’s and two days’ training sessions — Monday and today — and in terms of fitness when we go to Hwange, the players will not be 100 percent fit.

“However, despite such challenges, we have to be positive and the players know what is at stake, “ said Kaindu.

The Zambian gaffer is chasing a unique league and cup double.

On Friday, an unidentified well-wisher came to Highlanders’ rescue giving the club at least $5 000 to clear part of the outstanding bonuses.

The money was transferred to the club’s account and yesterday, chairman Peter Dube was hopeful that the transfer would go through.

Highlanders, according to a source, will pay back the benefactor who has on three occasions availed resources for the team to travel for their away matches to Harare and Hwange.

“It is true that the players are refusing to train and it is also true that we owe them money. We have never lied about the club coffers’ position and we will not lie to the players but we are doing everything we can to mobilise resources to pay them. As it is we are waiting for the funds from a well-wisher to go through so that we pay them.

“The member gave us money which will cover winning bonuses for one of the games. We are working around the clock to make sure that we clear players’ outstanding allowances, “ Dube said.

The executive held two emergency meetings meant to deal with the players’ disgruntlement on Wednesday and Friday morning, which were attended by Dube, his deputy Sikhanyiso Moyo and committee member Charles “Six-One “ Moyo.

They also had a joint meeting with the executive on Wednesday.

The other executive members, secretary Andrew Tapela and treasurer Odiel Nkomo were conspicuous by their absence.

According to a senior management source, the executive is divided over the issue with allegations that one camp wants to see the “empire “ crumble.

The source said everything started after the forensic audit which the club undertook after allegations of financial mismanagement started a few months ago.

Impeccable sources said a member of the technical team (name withheld) who is supposed to be the bridge between the players and the executive has been inciting the players to go on strike.

The source said the technical member told the players that the executive had misdirected its priorities when it paid Moyo the $3 000 he had advanced to the club to meet the expenses for the game against Monomotapa played in Harare.

Highlanders rely on gate-takings for their day-to-day operations.

The present executive inherited debts of about $500 000 from Themba Ndlela’s executive. The new executive has been working closely with the board to address the issue of the club’s financial challenges.

On the field of play, the players have done well making sure that the team is in the running for a league and cup double — the Mbada Diamonds Cup as well as the Castle Lager Premiership title which they last laid hands on in 2006.

After the weekend’s cup game against Monomotapa, the team that handed Highlanders their first defeat of the season a fortnight ago, Bosso will have to get ready for their championship decider against Dynamos in Harare.