adminSikhumbuzo Moyo Senior Sports Reporter
“WHEN I was young I would prefer not to eat whenever Highlanders would have lost but now I am a bit mature and understand football. I however still feel so much pain if we lose and prefer to be alone in my misery,” these were the words of physically handicapped Highlanders supporter and member Melusi Khumalo.
He has followed the team on away matches probably more than some of the self-styled Bosso supporters and can easily fit the bill of Highlanders number one fan.
I paid him a visit at his Herbert Chitepo Street home in the city and as I got into the house, I heard some noise like someone speaking alone. As I wondered what was happening, a family member told me that it was Melusi praying in his prayer room.
“He prays everyday,” quipped the family member.
I was ushered in and offered a seat on a nice sofa where I would stay for almost 10 minutes as I waited for him to finish his engagement with the Almighty.
There is plenty of entertainment through a fully subscribed DStv which I was later to learn that a city businessman and philanthropist Jasper Magava donated to Khumalo.
“He has done so much for me and when I go out to support the team away, it’s him who takes care of my costs and I really don’t know how to thank him,” said Khumalo.
Born 31 years ago and unfortunate to have suffered from polio at birth, Melusi starting following the 1926 formed black and white dressed Bulawayo giants when he was only four and living in Magwegwe suburb in the western areas.
“Most of my moments with Highlanders then was through the radio but once in a while my brother Morgan would take me to Barbourfields or Luveve Stadium to watch the team in action and in those days I never had a wheelchair so he would naturally carry me,” said Khumalo.
He said following Highlanders on its away matches has become a hobby if not a ritual for him as he does not want to rely on hearsay, which in most cases would be distorted.
He remembers vividly one journey by train that ended in vain without him watching his favourite team against Dynamos at Rufaro Stadium, after arriving in Harare just before 6pm.
“We boarded a train here on our way to Harare only for the train to have a break down along the way, leaving us with no option but to disembark and look for an alternative transport,” recalls Melusi.
Lucky enough a truck came by and picked them up but after travelling a few kilometres “the chap ordered us out of his car because we were chanting Highlanders slogans.”
They then walked for a while before another truck came by and took them straight to Harare where they were dropped outside the stadium. Under any other condition, they would have been naturally happy but this time, these were completely unwelcome conditions. It was just before 6pm and the match had long ended!
On his most memorable match, good or bad, the God-fearing Melusi said he still remembers like it happened yesterday, the 5-0 pummelling that Highlanders suffered at the hands of their archrivals Dynamos during the days of Moses Chunga’s Kidznet project.
“That pain won’t go away unless we also inflict the same injury to them, we might win 1-0, 2-0 or 3-2 but as long as it is not more than 5-0 I will still feel the humiliation, we just need to hand Dynamos that defeat,” he said.
He strongly believes that the team is still very much in contention for the league title, their first in seven years and called on the supporters to turn Barbourfields Stadium into hell on earth for the visiting teams by coming in their numbers to cheer the boys on.
“The boys need us now more than any other time and if we fill the stadium to capacity and cheer them on, angiboni okuyithimu okungasidla,” said Khumalo.
He had no kind words for those supporters who have been vilifying welfare manager Willard Khumalo, blaming him for the defeats suffered by Bosso.
“To me it makes no sense at all, there is no way Willard can pray for the downfall of Highlanders, a team he played for so many years. When he stands up to make a substitution he would have been instructed by the coach and it’s that simple, abantu abamekele uWillard enze umsebenzi wakhe, ngeke abulale iHighlanders lanxa sekutheni,” said Khumalo.
His wishful players to join Bosso are Monomotapa forward Ronald Chitiyo and Chicken Inn dribbling wizard and firm Soccer Star of the Year favourite Kudakwashe Mahachi.
Khumalo predicted Highlanders will win 2-0 against How Mine tomorrow.
Online Reporter