Let’s protect the club: Mnkandla

BONAFIDE Highlanders Football Club members have been asked to play an advocacy role and protect the image of the club by encouraging fans to desist from throwing missiles on match days as this costs the club substantial amounts.

Last season, Highlanders lost almost half of their US$40 000 Castle Lager Premier Soccer League’s prize money for finishing fourth to fines for offences committed by fans.

Bosso treasurer Busani Mthombeni reported that the club had US$17 000 of their 2021/22 prize money deducted by the league due to supporters’ misdemeanour’s.

While giving his remarks at the closing of the adjourned Highlanders annual general meeting held on Sunday, board chairman Luke Mnkandla tasked bonafide club members to encourage other fans to desist from missile throwing, a trend that is costing the club financially.

This season, they are already sitting on a US$4 000 fine.
Both fines emanate from missile throwing by fans.

Bosso were found guilty of the offence in their match against Sheasham at Bata Stadium and against Simba Bhora at Barbourfields Stadium.

“We are paying a lot of money with these fines. Let’s plead with other followers so that we protect our club.

I know we meet fans out there, let’s talk to them and highlight to them how the club is losing money unnecessarily,” said Mnkandla.

He also called on bonafide members not to abuse their privileges.
“Members must also desist from killing the club’s revenue by bringing in relatives whom they want to get into the stadium for free.

In as much as I am the board chairman my relatives pay to get into the stadium and all that is revenue that goes to the club,” said Mnkandla.

Bosso’s next game is against Dynamos at Barbourfields Stadium tomorrow afternoon.

The same fixture last year saw Highlanders and Dynamos fined US$5 000 and US$7 500 respectively by the Premier Soccer League (PSL) over their abandoned league match.

The match was called off in injury time due to crowd trouble largely from Dynamos fans who uprooted the goal post at the Mpilo end and damaged the perimeter fence. Bosso’s crime was throwing missiles and pitch invasion as they celebrated their goal.

Bosso were leading 1-0 against a 10-man DeMbare when the match was abandoned.
Eventually Bosso were handed three points and a 3-0 scoreline. —@innocentskizoe