admin
Highlanders were handed a three-year ban from all continental competitions by the Confederation of African Football after the Bulawayo giants “withdrew” from the Caf Confederation Cup in 2011. This came after Zifa forwarded the club’s name for registration despite Highlanders, under Themba Ndlela then, making it clear that they were not prepared to participate in the tournament due to their precarious financial position.
Last minute withdrawals from Caf competitions led to mandatory three-year bans and or fines.
Zifa made assurances to the club that they would appeal at a special Caf meeting in Seychelles where Mashingaidze was quoted saying they would push the issue up for discussion with the relevant body during the meeting.
However a letter from Caf’s competitions committee proved that Zifa approached the continental mother body last month, exactly four days before the deadline for registration for next year’s competitions.
“We acknowledge receipt of your letter dated 26 November 2012 concerning your request to engage Highlanders in Caf inter-club competitions. However we would like to inform you that this request will be submitted to the bureau of inter-club competitions committee on 9 December 2012,” wrote Khalid Nassar from the competitions division.
That committee met last weekend and according to the resolutions, there is nothing about Highlanders’ request.
The Zifa chief executive officer had earlier yesterday promised to have a definite position just before midday yesterday.
“I will be getting in touch with Caf competitions committee so that they give us their final position regarding the Highlanders issue because we have been clear in our appeal that the club had nothing to do with all this confusion, so just get in touch then,” said Mashingaidze.
Later in the day his mobile phone was no longer reachable and a call to Caf headquarters in Cairo, Egypt, almost confirmed the worst fears.
“Nassar is not in the office today but I don’t remember anything positive about the club you are talking about. Try and call tomorrow for an official position though,” said the gentleman who identified himself as Ahmed.
Bosso chairman Peter Dube last month said the club has never received any communication from Zifa on the progress that has been made about the ban.
Highlanders’ last participation was in 2008 where the club remained deeply in the red following among other strange decisions by a then Ernest Sibanda led executive to stage Highlanders’ home match against Sudanese giants El Merreikh at Gwanzura Stadium in Harare.
To fulfill the return match, Highlanders borrowed about $40 000 from long time club benefactor Tshinga Dube’s family and that saw the club getting into serious debts some of which are still haunting the club up to this very day.
Online Reporter