Chronicle Editor
Ngqwele Dube, Sports Correspondent
MENTION the word Covid-19 to any sportsperson and the only thing they conjure up is misery of cancelled games, lost revenue and lost opportunities.
From the postponement of the world’s biggest sporting showcase, the Tokyo Olympics, millions of lost revenue in broadcasting deals, stalling of player movement, the agony of playing in empty stadiums and in the case of Zimbabwe, a football league, with chances high it might be scrapped.
Local football giants, Highlanders have not been spared the misery, having to grapple with a sponsorship that ran out, lost revenue as there are no gate takings and being saddled with salary costs but faced with dried up income streams. However, the Bosso family will remember Covid-19 with a bittersweet memory as the pandemic played a role in the extinguishing of the club’s debts that had been threatening to pull it down.
Highlanders South Africa chapter chairman, Nodumo Nyathi admits had it not for the lockdown induced by the Covid-19, he would not have revisited his campaign to eradicate the club’s debt, an effort that had few takers when it was first mooted in 2018.
Working 6 000km away from home had seen Nyathi failing to take up a long-held goal, to learn to play the keyboard piano.
After realising he would not be making it back to his work station in Mali anytime soon, Nyathi, currently based in South Africa, knew he had to come up with activities to fill up the time besides spending quality time with his family. Learning to play the keyboard was foremost on his mind.
“I bought the keyboard eight years ago but never had the chance to learn to play it due to the fact I am away at work most of the time. When the lockdown began, I went online, downloaded some lessons and started teaching myself the keyboard but later enlisted the help of Sydney Tshabalala of Brethren in Christ Church (Oliven),” said Nyathi.
However, the Bosso debt was still nagging and one evening he decided to revisit his earlier efforts to extinguish it.
Nyathi came up with a new strategy and enlisted the help of Busani Mthombeni to work out a reconciliation format to ensure transparency.
“I have never been at home for five months in succession in the past 12 years and I credit Covid-19 for giving me ample time to revisit the Bosso debt campaign. I am happy we have now managed to complete our goal and Bosso is debt free. The response was immense and from Bosso supporters spread all over the world and I am glad Highlanders fans took up the worthy cause. I would not have done it alone. It is working together that made it worthwhile.
“My life literally stopped in the last three months as it was all about Bosso, day and night. I really want to appreciate my wife for allowing me to work for Bosso, I would drive to various places, some far from home, as people asked me to go and collect cash to deposit on their behalf. In some instances when I got home someone would call saying he/she has sent money and I go out again,” he said.
The legacy debt stood at $862 868 when the campaign started. In a social media post yesterday, Nyathi said his team had handed over $825 950ZWL plus US $1 736 to Highlanders which was raised by club supporters across the globe. On Friday, Highlanders chairman Kenneth Mhlophe acknowledged the work done by the Nyathi fundraising team, thanking the club’s supporters who took part in the initiative.
“The Clubhouse grounds borehole pump packed up. Next project will be the borehole pump system plus Jojo tank. More information coming in the next days,” said Nyathi.
Sidumisile Mabena