Online Reporter
Lovemore Dube [email protected]
MGCINI Nkolomi, chairman of the Highlanders 100 Years Half Marathon organising committee, says the club’s centenary celebrations should honour the legacy of Highlanders while celebrating the lives of its members and supporters.
Nkolomi made the remarks on Friday during a breakfast meeting in Bulawayo, where club legends revealed that October 24 has been set aside as a Family Fun Day at the Highlanders Clubhouse. The event will bring together members and sporting disciplines under the Highlanders banner for a variety of activities.
The Highlanders 100 Years Half Marathon is expected to be one of the flagship events, with organisers already exploring plans to make it an annual fixture. There are also ambitions to transform it into a national and international road race next year following a modest but encouraging debut this year.
In line with the broader vision, Nkolomi said the marathon and Family Fun Day would be anchored on five key thematic areas that reflect Highlanders’ values and its role within the community.
“We have identified five thematic areas that are key and will be visible on the day as they sum up Highlanders’ influence in the community and aspirations going forward, points or matters that affect the communities from whom the club’s members come from,” said Nkolomi.
The themes are membership growth, road safety, environmental cleanliness, the fight against drug and substance abuse, and wellness.
Nkolomi said the event would provide an opportunity to recruit new members, with the marathon and family gathering expected to attract supporters, residents and participants from various sporting disciplines.
“While we celebrate 100 years of existence, we have to start looking at the next chapter, how may be through a bigger membership base the club can explore and see how it can sustain itself towards the next 100 years. A large fan base of bona fide members can contribute financially towards the team’s economic turn-around, there has to be a paradigm shift fronted by members that speaks to financing the club in some way,” said Nkolomi.
Highlanders have traditionally relied on the support of benefactors from within and outside its membership, largely due to its strong brand appeal, despite struggling to convert its large following into sustainable financial backing.
“Bosso have to adapt to a changing world, certain models of the team’s past way of survival, are no longer applicable, there has to be a position that guarantees the future,” he said.
Nkolomi, a former Highlanders board member and businessman, said the half marathon would also serve as a platform to promote road safety awareness.
“The road race and marathon will be an opportunity for the club to partake in one area that is key, we continue to lose members through road carnage. We will add our weight to already existing campaigns about safety on our roads,” he said.
Nkolomi said Highlanders were committed to supporting environmental sustainability initiatives.
“As we celebrate our 100 years, we support environmental friendliness and are part of the green revolution. As Highlanders we are not just about football issues to do with the climate and environment affect us too,” said Nkolomi, who was flanked by club legend Lawrence Phiri, chairman of the October 24 Family Fun Day, and Highlanders@100 Years Celebrations Committee vice-chairman Nicholas Nyathi.
He said the half marathon and other activities, including rugby, football, darts, netball and basketball, would provide opportunities for corporates to participate through sponsored teams.
“It will also be an opportunity for corporate bodies to create a good working environment of camaraderie,” said Nkolomi.
He said Highlanders remained fully committed to combating drug and substance abuse within communities.
“We will engage partners and members who will be in attendance in the fight against drug and substance abuse, we want a clean and safe environment for everyone in our communities. The drug and substance scourge has destroyed sportspersons and families,” said Nkolomi.
Nkolomi said the half marathon, which organisers hope to eventually expand into a full marathon, was also designed to encourage healthy lifestyles and community wellness.
“A fit human being has a good mental state which is key to productivity. Mental health is good and sport promotes that apart from social integration and unity,” said Nkolomi.
He said football legends and representatives from other sporting disciplines were expected to attend the celebrations.
Nkolomi added that the October 24 event would also provide businesses with a valuable marketing platform through association with one of Zimbabwe’s biggest sporting brands.
“There will be a combo of packages for companies that want to associate with the event and Highlanders.”
