Online Reporter
Lovemore Dube, [email protected]
HIGHLANDERS Legends are expected to be a big drawcard at this year’s Independence Day Celebrations as they will be the main curtain raiser to the main match, whose participating teams are yet to be announced.
The club enjoys a big following in the region with former Bosso players coming from a radius of about 12km from Maphisa Business Centre.
Among the most popular players in recent years known to have played for Highlanders are the Ndlovu brothers, Bekithemba, Mbongeni and Dumisani, all three former Bosso defenders, Dumaza Dube, Michael “Kezi Striker” Mhlanga, former Black Mambas player Dumisani “Zifa” Ndlovu, ZRP Stops coach the late Riot Ncube, in the 1970s there is renowned junior development coach Ali Dube, Trust Moyo and the late Nehemiah Dube.
Tafi Moyo, a club benefactor whose history with the club dated back to 1934, who rose to be patron of the club, comes from the district as does former chairman and secretary now a board member Peter Dube and other board members Cosmas Sikhosana, Methuseli Mafu and Matthew Sibindi.
Itai Masawi, the secretary-general of the Highlanders Legends Association, a grouping of former players for both juniors, seniors and Royals (Ladies) confirmed yesterday that they would play in Maphisa during the Independence Day Celebrations.
The presence of Douglas Mloyi, Madinda “Khathazile” Ndlovu, Gift “Di Gong” Lunga, Peter “Oxo” Nkomo, Kainot “Topi Kayz” Luphahla, Dumisani “Savimbi” Nyoni, Danny Ngwenya, Themba Ncube, Smart Moyo and Tanny Banda, is expected to excite fans.
Many used to sit under Mopane trees and listen to radio commentaries. Independence Day is expected to create nostalgic moments for the community members and those coming from other regions, who have never been close to these players, physically.
The likes of British Mloyi, Banda and Madinda had many kids given their names in the 1980s.
Masawi was speaking at the end of a signing ceremony where former players and the Joshua Mqabuko Nkomo National Foundation agreed to work together.
“It has been a milestone event, we got into a partnership with the Joshua Mqabuko Nkomo National Foundation, we have been engaging each other through activities, as former players, we want to conduct coaching clinics at schools through the Ministry of Education. We realised that the foundation also gives back to the community,” said Masawi.
He is excited that they will be taking their brand to a community that the late nationalist Joshua Mqabuko Nkomo who died on 1 July 1999 comes from.
“Mdala came from Kezi, we are going to curtain raise there, we are going to play other games there before the match such as the opening of the stadium,” said Masawi on the sidelines of a ceremony that saw the Foundation represented by leaders Benedict Moyo, board member Dumisani Nkomo and chief executive officer, Hloniphani Nkomo.
Moyo said they were looking forward to a mutually beneficial gathering that would add value to each other with a view of uplifting the late Joshua Nkomo and the players’ legacy.
Under the agreement, the two bodies will work together on community projects such as drug and substance abuse.
With both bodies, legal entities, Masawi said the former players will be empowered through nationwide coaching clinics as the Ministry of Education will be engaged so that they work at schools.
