adminTHE entire leadership of Highlanders FC are in Europe on a landmark tour which many hope will be a game-changer in the history of this iconic football institution.
Bosso occupy a very special place in Zimbabwean football.
It is the oldest football club, among our top-flight league sides, having been formed in 1926, and they are set to celebrate their 100th anniversary in just four years’ time.
It’s important that Bosso lead by example and succeed, both on and off the pitch, because that sets a good example for the other emerging clubs to follow.
After sealing their sponsorship deal with Sakunda Holdings, Highlanders are clearly standing on a firm foundation to build a strong house which will see them celebrating their 100th anniversary while they are in good health.
But, we believe that a club like Highlanders, just like their biggest rivals Dynamos, should not only be about succeeding on the domestic fronts.
These two giants should be the local torch-bearers, when it comes to leading the way, for our football clubs to transform themselves into brands, whose presence can be felt in countries, which are outside our borders.
We believe that, just like how Kaizer Chiefs and Orlando Pirates have transformed themselves into brands, whose influence and appeal is felt outside South Africa, Highlanders and Dynamos can also do the same.
All it requires is for the two local giants to move their focus, from the yesteryear template, where all they needed was to win the local championship, and find one which now taps into their huge appeal, in transforming their commercial interests.
This means that they need to learn about how others have been doing it and these tours, which have been organised by Sakunda Holdings, will certainly help them appreciate the true value of commercial success stories and how others have done it.
When you get to Paris Saint-Germain, where the Bosso leaders will begin their tour, you are immediately blown away by the level of investment, which has gone into transforming this club, over the last couple of years.
The investment which now means they are able to ensure that a player like Kylian Mbappe can turn down an offer from Real Madrid, to stay in Paris, and they can also woo Lionel Messi and Neymar into their fold.
Of course, as of now, it’s something that neither Highlanders nor Dynamos can afford.
But, that doesn’t mean they cannot benefit from knowledge about how PSG transformed themselves into becoming a football entity, which ended up luring wealthy investors, from the Middle East, to transform the face of this club.
While the level of investment might differ, what doesn’t change is the template which is used to lure such corporate partners, and this is an area where both Bosso and DeMbare could benefit significantly, from these tours of Europe.
There is a saying in local football that when Dynamos and Highlanders sneeze, the entire domestic football family catches a cold.
That is why it remains crucial that we keep these two big boys in good health and, so far, the projects started by Sakunda Holdings are bringing in good energy.
Mathew Masinge
Online Reporter