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Ngqwele Dube, Sports Correspondent
THE Bosso@91 Sports Festival has received a boost with the donation of a beast by life member, Kenneth Mhlophe.
The beast will be used to feed visitors from Botswana and local guests with the remainder being put up for sale to raise funds to meet the costs of hosting the event.
Centenary Celebrations Committee chairman, Luke Mnkandla said the beast, valued at $1 000 will go a long way towards assisting them meet some of the costs for the event scheduled from Friday to Sunday.
“This is basically a self-funding event and we need financial assistance to host it. The club is struggling financially so naturally we could not ask for money from the office. The funds we raise from selling the meat over the two days will go a long way towards meeting some of the costs.
“The cow will be sold over the duration of the festival after being cooked. This is going to be an annual event so we will be engaging companies to fund the festival in return for branding rights for the sports day, which we hope to grow with each year,” he said.
Mhlophe said he was always ready to give a helping hand to Highlanders but added he was motivated to assist the celebrations committee because he believed Bosso was more than just a football team.
He reckoned that other sport codes remain relevant within the Highlanders institution and should be promoted despite not being as popular as soccer.
“I think it is critical that going forward Bosso retains its status as more than just a football club. We should continue to remain one of the community organisations that embrace many sporting codes. I think it is a big achievement in itself that we have managed to have teams in sports such as basketball, volleyball, netball and recently rugby.
“This will ensure the Bosso brand goes just beyond football but spreads its tentacles wider and has a bigger reach. Yes most people know and follow Bosso because of the football part but I think the scope of increasing the brand visibility is still huge when we have teams in other sports,” said Mhlophe.
He said as the club inches towards 100 years it would be critical to highlight its achievements while also reflecting on its failures.
Mhlophe said he hopes the yearly celebrations will culminate in huge commemorations in 2026.
“We need befitting celebrations for 100 years and I believe it was a noble idea for the celebrations to be held yearly because it will keep the momentum and keep people on their toes for the centenary celebrations which I think should not just be in Zimbabwe but across our borders and even internationally,” he said.
Mnkandla said new additions this year include rugby while Botswana’s Notwane Sports Club will be sending two netball teams and a legends football team.
He added there will be stalls that companies can take up to exhibit and showcase their products over the course of the festival.
“It is going to be a family fun day and we urge the club’s supporters to come in their numbers to cheer on teams that would be taking part in various sports codes that include supporters’ football, legends football, netball, volleyball, basketball, darts and rugby.
“Rugby is likely to be played at another venue while basketball has been tentatively earmarked for Khanyisile Sports Centre,” said Mnkandla.
Online Reporter