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Ricky Zililo Senior Sports Reporter
BULAWAYO giants Highlanders FC will change their away strip from their traditional black and white to black and red.
This will not be the first time for Highlanders to don red as they did so in the early stages of the club stretching for a decade after its formation in 1926.
Peter Dube, Highlanders’ chairman yesterday said the move to adopt the red strip as their away uniform was mooted a few years ago and they met their sponsors BancABC who suggested that Bosso follows what other international clubs are doing by having different colours for away matches.
“It is true that soon Highlanders will have a different colour for away matches and that is more like the trend that other top clubs have adopted worldwide. Because there are a few issues that we have to discuss as Highlanders family before changing the away strip, our team will this season wear red track-tops and black bottoms when going for away games,” Dube said.
“At home we will stick to our traditional black and white. The reason we’re starting with tracksuits is to get our followers to gradually appreciate the change of colours before we adopt the red kit.”
At present, Highlanders wear an all white kit when playing away.
Highlanders through their primary sponsors BancABC entered into a kit deal with the giant global sports apparel company Adidas who last year unveiled an improved jersey similar to that used by English Premiership title contenders Chelsea and Uefa Champions Bayern Munich FC of Germany.
Most European clubs use different strips for their away games with Chelsea’s traditional away colours being all yellow or all white with blue trimmings, but, as with most teams, they have had some more unusual ones like lime or purple.
Manchester United have worn a blue away kit, but it has been revealed that the Red Devils want to unveil a light blue away kit, very similar in colour to Manchester City’s home strip while Liverpool don either white shirts and black shorts or all yellow for their away trips.
However, in 1987 Liverpool introduced an all grey away kit which was used until the 1991-92 centenary season, when it was replaced by a combination of green shirts and white shorts.
The introduction of a different strip for away matches is likely to boost Bosso’s coffers in as far as merchandise sales are concerned.
“It’s more of a business step that our sponsors have suggested based on what other top clubs have achieved. Even in red the Adidas brand will look beautiful and that is why we’re saying before we introduce a red away strip, we have to first communicate that to our members,” Dube said.
In South Africa Orlando Pirates use red away from home instead of their traditional predominatly black with a bit of white.
It is likely that Harare giants, Dynamos who are also bankrolled by BancABC who facilitated the Adidas partnership will also adopt new colours when they are on the road.
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