Chronicle Editor
Bruce Ndlovu, Sports Reporter
THEY come like a sea of black and white, seemingly swept towards the corner of Fife Street and Masotsha Ndlovu by the sound of the final whistle at Barbourfields Stadium.
From kombis, trucks and the even glittering sports cars, they spill into Highlanders Sports Club and from that hour, it automatically becomes the busiest sports bar in the city, teeming with excited Bosso fans eager to quench their thirst while reliving the afternoon’s proceedings.
So impressive has been the facelift at the home of Zimbabwe’s oldest football club that it bears little resemblance to the old clubhouse. When Sunday News Sport visited the joint, recently, one fan quipped that they came to the clubhouse just to admire the cleanliness of the ablution facilities.
Revellers now sink into couches that still give off the smell of freshly upholstered leather while the television screens at the joint are both big and generously allocated, allowing fans to take in the beautiful game clearly from various angles. It has been a remarkable transformation that now sees the clubhouse on par with some of the posh upmarket bars and sports clubs in the city.
For the first time in a long time, the clubhouse seems geared to attract the kind of clientele that would have laughed off suggestion of spending an evening at the place once-upon-a-time. In an interview with Sunday News, Highlanders CEO Ronald Moyo said the renovations that had taken place at the clubhouse were necessary, as the old structure was now well past its sell-by date.
“The structure had outlived its glory days. It was dilapidated to a point where the general feeling was that one day it will collapse in the presence of our loyal patrons. Besides, we thought it needed a new feel, an ambiance that will make it competitive in the business,” he said.
According to Moyo, the renovations were driven by city businessman Phathisani Nkomo, who runs several bars and nightspots in the city. According to a source that spoke to Sunday News anonymously, Nkomo took over the joint in a build, operate and transfer basis.
Each month, Bosso is set to get a stipulated cash injection from the businessman, regardless of the financial performance of the clubhouse. That arrangement is expected to be maintained for the next five years.
“We identified Phathisani Nkomo, a renowned businessperson in the city, specialising in liquor business to come on board as a consultant. We will benefit from his expertise for the next five years and we are confident that he will leave us with much improved systems in terms of running that business,” said Moyo.
According to the Bosso CEO, renovation work is not yet complete at the clubhouse, with more amenities set to be added.
“The project is not yet complete as we are touching up on a few outstanding areas such as branding (both inside and outside) and the inside kitchen for our patrons to be able to buy snacks while they are enjoying their beverages. It is only after those areas have been attended to that we will be able to have the exact figure, but our projection is that the project will be plus or minus US$50 000,” he said.
Moyo said that the renovation of the clubhouse was a part of the club’s overall ambition to diversify its revenue sources.
“Infrastructure development is a major pillar of our strategic focus. The idea is to revamp all our infrastructure for full utilisation so that we diversify our revenue streams. We have big plans for the sports club which also includes training grounds for our football teams, and space for various sporting disciplines,” he said.
With the clubhouse’s sudden transformation into an upmarket joint, there have been fears in some quarters that it might turn into an elitist establishment that turns its nose at the Bosso rank and file who used to frequent the joint while it was in its most shambolic state. However, Moyo allayed those fears and said that the clubhouse would remain friendly to Bosso fans from all walks of life.
“We don’t necessarily want to change the clientele because we are a community club. We want people across different backgrounds, across social strata to feel comfortable and enjoy in very conducive environment. We want to encourage the culture of drinking from the Clubhouse regardless of class or status,” he said.
The Johnfat Sibanda led Highlanders executive committee has been accused of “selling” the clubhouse, but according to sources familiar with the deal, Nkomo cannot attach the Bosso clubhouse or any property belonging to the club in the event that he fails to recoup his investment within the stipulated time. -@BruciEEye
Online Reporter