Online Reporter
Fungai Muderere, Zimpapers Sports Hub
IN every given society, we have often seen ragged children in the streets using empty tin cans as begging bowls, starving men sitting on the pavement beside begging bowls!
Just like the aforementioned individuals, Highlanders junior teams’ coaches Sizabantu Khoza and Danny Ngwenya have not been spared from the sad, similar development.
The two mentors from a great Zimbabwe football institution are figuratively “tapping on people’s windows and knocking on their doors” with a begging bowl in their hands.
It’s a Go Fund Me initiative for the two Bosso’s developmental sides gaffers, who are currently doing Caf C course, which is being held in Harare.
According to the SOS message that has been posted on social media platforms “the course fee is US$580 per head. There are other incidentals such as accommodation and food expenses. Therefore, they are kindly appealing for your benevolence as they seek to upgrade themselves for the benefit of our youth. Your assistance in cash or kind will be greatly appreciated. It’s a race against time. Let’s empower them.”
It’s really a Sizani Bantu initiative!
Asked on why the club has not considered to assist the two mentors to upgrade themselves professionally, acting Highlanders chief executive officer Kindman Ndlovu said Khoza and Ngwenya saw it fit to go the public route after approaching the club, which was willing to assist with certain terms.
“This is an initiative that was done by the coaches with the assistance of many other people. It is not run by the club,” said Ndlovu.”
“They (Khoza and Ngwenya) approached the club seeking financial assistance to upgrade themselves, with certain individual terms that were tabled they opted to go the other route. We think there is nothing wrong with that, as you have seen, some of us who are in the Highlanders leadership have chipped in. It’s a public route and everyone is behind them, we will forever remain behind them,” said Ndlovu.
Khoza revealed, while they wanted the initiative to be a low key thing they are grateful to Bosso chairman Kenneth Mhlophe and other club leaders, who have extended their helping hand.
“We wanted this to be a low key thing and by taking the public route we are not saying we have been forsaken at Highlanders. That is our home. We are not owed anything by anyone, we appreciate every effort,” said Khoza, a yesteryear Bosso midfield dynamo.
He added: “When we approached the chairman, he offered us assistance in one way or the other and I am happy to say we are going to meet him tomorrow (Friday). We are also scheduled to meet the club’s treasurer (Nkani Khoza). We are looking forward to fruitful meetings.—@FungaiMuderere
Bongani Ndlovu