I did not incite players to boycot training

The Bosso players boycotted training last week demanding to be paid their outstanding bonuses for wins against Shabanie Mine, Hwange and Black Mambas.

They only started training on Wednesday after the club was advanced money to pay part of the outstanding money by an unnamed member of the club.

There were allegations that Soma-Phiri was behind the players’ boycott but he has denied this.

However, according to sources Soma Phiri stunned a board member at the club offices who instructed him to tell the players to report for duty when he responded that they would not unless they were paid their dues.

Bosso are not the only team in arrears and it is not the first time that this has happened. There were several instances during Soma-Phiri and Kaindu’s time at the club as players when they were not paid on time.

Kaindu is said to have encouraged the boys to concentrate on playing while the issue of outstanding bonuses was being addressed.

“It is really sad that there are allegations that the players were incited to go on strike. Surely, how can some people throw spanners when the team is playing well,” said the source.

Contacted for comment, Soma-Phiri denied ever inciting players.

“I don’t know anything about those allegations. Actually, yenzani elifuna ukukwenza ngoba angazi lutho mina (you can write what you want because I know nothing about the allegations),” said Soma-Phiri who joined Highlanders in 1984 from bitter rivals Olympics.

Some players spoken to said they were eager to play for the club even without money as it is an honour to don the club colours. They said the honour had no dollar equivalent.

Meanwhile, the Highlanders board is reported to be investigating Soma-Phiri’s involvement in sending three senior players, vice-captain Eric Mudzingwa, Peter Moyo and Milton Ncube for an unsanctioned fund-raising event in Filabusi.

The players were joined by two other players who are not regulars in the first team for the Filabusi game last Saturday.

The players were paid between $250-$300 each in Filabusi after being paraded to the club’s followers and sympathisers.

Highlanders did not get anything from the unauthorised fundraising event. Already, a board member has been to Filabusi investigating the matter. It is understood that the board member established that a person only identified as Vumani had contacted a member of the executive who instructed Soma-Phiri to provide names of the players who could travel to Filabusi.

Asked to comment on the fund-raising issue Soma-Phiri said: “Ngithe angazi lutho mina. (I said I don’t know anything about those allegations). Anyway, whoever told you that story should give you all the information. Right now I am busy trying to organise transport for us to travel to Hwange.”

Highlanders take on Monomotapa in the Mbada Diamonds Cup quarter-finals at the Colliery Stadium tomorrow.

Divisions have emerged in the Highlanders camp with some not happy that Bosso under Dube and Kelvin Kaindu has been transformed into a powerful team once more.

The ongoing investigations into the management of the club’s finances has torn the club apart.

Odiel Nkomo, the club treasurer is waiting to hear his fate after discrepancies were uncovered in the club’s books of accounts. This comes a year after a board member Titus Ncube quit, accusing Nkomo of financial imprudence.

Club board chairman Dumisani Sandi has previously threatened unspecified action against Chronicle for exposing poor management.