Vusumuzi Dube
Sports Reporter
HIGHLANDERS FC have distanced themselves from calls for a stadium boycott when they clash with ZPC Kariba on Sunday.
Sihlangu Dlodlo the club chief executive officer confirmed yesterday that Highlanders were training and ready to entertain fans on Sunday.
He added that the club was not involved in the call to boycott the match and assemble at the Highlanders Clubhouse.
Some Highlanders members, supporters and sympathisers are advocating for a complete boycott of the match as a protest to the Premier Soccer League and Zifa for the way the club is being treated.
Things came to a head two Sundays ago when a dubious penalty was awarded against Highlanders in their clash with Simba Bhora in Shamva. Highlanders refused to have the kick taken and as if to acknowledge that Highlanders were justified to rubbish the call, Cecil Gwezera the match referee and his assistant Zondzi Ngosana were immediately suspended the next morning in an unprecedented quick resolution to a refereeing complaint.
Social media has been awash with calls for a boycott of the match.
What further infuriated the fans is the PSL’s decision to fine Highlanders and Simba Bhora US$6 000 each for crowd trouble. They argue that Highlanders was not the home team and that management of the event belongs to the PSL management hence the League failed to discharge its duties.
Bongani Ndlovu
Online Reporter