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HIGHLANDERS are still to decide on the fate of their developmental side following the team’s promotion into the Zifa Southern Region Division One league.
Despite being held to a 1-1 all draw by Ajax Hotspurs last weekend Highlanders Academy landed the ticket to Division One as they will finish the season second behind eventual Bulawayo province Division Two winners Talen Vision.
While Division Two is confined to Bulawayo, Division One covers Matabeleland North and Bulawayo which means more expenses for the already financially crippled club.
The club’s chief executive officer, Ndumiso Gumede, said they discussed the issue at the club executive’s weekly meeting held last Monday and various propositions were tabled with some arguing the team should be allowed to play in Division One while others felt the franchise should be sold.
He said the meeting did not reach any conclusion on the matter but the initial discussions would be carried forward as the club interrogates the best way to proceed.
“We discussed the issue and while some felt we should sell the franchise and go back to D2 because of our precarious financial situation some felt this is an opportunity to create a strong development side that would face serious competition and also produce more competitive players for our senior team.
“Others felt it would also be an opportunity for us to create a pool of players that are marketable to other clubs both within and outside the country thus creating much needed income for the team,” said Gumede.
Gumede said it was not a secret that the club was in financial distress and they would not want to take on an additional burden that would require financing instead of bringing in more funds to the club.
He added there is a supporters’ chapter, which he declined to name, that had offered to fund one of their junior teams and they may ask them to sponsor the developmental side once it is in Division One.
“A supporters’ chapter that I cannot name at the moment approached us and told us they would like to assist the club through financing one of our junior teams.
“We had not yet reached an agreement so we might table a proposal for them to fund the development side, ensuring we can sustain the team’s stay in Division One,” said Gumede.
He welcomed the promotion of the side saying it was a good sign their juniors were doing well adding all other junior teams in the Bulawayo Province League were doing well with the lowest position on number three.
Going into this weekend’s matches, Highlanders Academy was four points adrift of champions, Talen Vision who had amassed 58 points before the two sides clashed yesterday (Saturday) at Barbourfields’ Outside grounds.
derick.khumalo
Online Reporter