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Fungai Muderere
DESPITE a fine run of late, Highlanders FC does not have the money or verve to enter regional tournaments.
If they win the lucrative Chibuku Super Cup in which they have reached the quarter finals, Highlanders would secure a berth into the Confederation of African football (CAF) inter-club competition next year.
Yes, they need the Chibuku Cup but its added advantage seems to be a disadvantage.
a�?Unless and until our campaign is fully sponsored we will compete in the Caf inter-club football. As a club we do not have our own funds to do that,a�? said CEO Ndumiso Gumede.
He added that a cost benefit analysis and risk calculation should be taken into consideration.
a�?The later stages (group) of the tournament tend to have money. So it will be up to our executive to take a risk. There is money in the group stages but what if we do not make it there? We will have a lot of problems,a�? he said.
For Bosso, the knock-out competition also presents a totally new incentive for the 90-year-old club. Coach Erol Akbay is on record saying they are now eyeing a cup double a�� PSL and Chibuku Cup.
This means Akbay and his boys are hoping log leaders FC Platinum and second placed Caps United lose their steam and go on to claim the league title.
The PSL title gives clubs a ticket to represent the country in the Caf Champions League competition but Gumede maintained chances were between slim and none that his executive would decide on going for the African Safari venture.
a�?If we win the league, chances are that we will decline playing in the Caf Champions League. We will only do that if we happen to get a sponsor for our airfares and things like accommodation,a�? he said.
Highlanders are sponsored by BancABC and their deal is set to run out at the end of the year.
In the past Caf handed Bosso a three-year ban for declining to participate in the Confederation Cup when they had already been registered.
Their ban started in 2012 after Zifa had blundered in registering the Bulawayo giants against their will. Subsequent appeals were turned down by Caf.
The Bosso ban was in line with standing Confederation Cup regulations and the Bulawayo giants had to serve the full punishment for withdrawing from a fixture against Zambian outfit Nchanga Rangers in 2011.
Reigning league champions Chicken Inn and Harare City were this year Zimbabwea��s representatives in the Caf Champions League and Confederation Cup. .
Online Reporter