Sports Reporter
HIGHLANDERS Football Club supporters have decided not to watch their boys play Green Fuel at Barbourfields Stadium on Sunday, but instead, gather at Highlanders Clubhouse in the city centre to raise funds for the club and honour the life of the club’s late Chief Executive Officer Sihlangu Dlodlo.
Highlanders play Green Fuel in a league match on Sunday, and just like Bosso supporters and members boycotted the league game against ZPC Kariba early last month, Barbourfields stadium is likely to be empty again on Sunday.
The October boycott was motivated by what club members and supporters believed was unfair treatment by referees and football authorities, after the team had a disputed penalty awarded against them in the quarter-final of the Chibuku Super Cup away to Simba Bhora, resulting in the abandonment of the match. Bosso were later fined and booted out of the competition by the Premier Soccer League Disciplinary Committee.
“This coming Sunday all roads lead to Highlanders F.C Club House to celebrate the life of the late Bosso CEO Sihlangu Dlodlo who was found deceased on Monday evening. We call upon Highlanders sons and daughters not to attend Bosso game against Green Fuel at BF and head to the clubhouse to celebrate and honour Mpangazitha and also raise money for the club to pay for scandalous fines imposed on our beloved Club by PSL. Our season is over as fans of Highlanders but will keep fundraising for igugulethu (something precious to us). Dlodlo memorial service will be held at the Bulawayo Amphitheatre and he will be laid to rest at the Lady Stanley Cemetery on Saturday,” said one of the coordinators of the Clubhouse fundraiser, media personality Ezra Sibanda in social media post.
Another club member and benefactor, Nodumo Nyathi said on social media;
“Sunday the 3rd of November 2024 our GPS ayigobi ibheke eClubhouse (our Global Positioning System is straight to Clubhouse). We will celebrate the life of our CEO Sihlangu Dlodlo. Let’s make it a great day as we fundraise for Bosso and at the same time remember the great man. We call upon artists who worked with him to volunteer their service on the day. Contact Ezra Tshisa Sibanda or Moeli Kelebile. Let’s make it the best ever home game, a family event and companies are welcome to participate on the day and advertise to multitudes of us.”
However, the calls to boycott the Sunday match started before the death of the club’s chief executive, with supporters arguing that a strong message had to be sent to football authorities. Highlanders supporters and members argue that the club has been unfairly treated by authorities, yet the club remains the cash cow for the Premier Soccer League, Zimbabwe Football Association, Bulawayo City Council (stadium owners), Sports and Recreation Commission and private security companies, among other businesses and service providers downstream that benefit when the club is playing at home.
In the first clubhouse event, about US$ 10,000 was raised, with other contributions coming from club fans dotted around the country and abroad. Those who will turn up at the Clubhouse will pay an entrance fee ranging from US$3 to US$10, depending on the section which one would have gone to at the stadium on the day. A number of artists are set to entertain the crowd.
Dlodlo (60) will be laid to rest on Saturday in Bulawayo. He is survived by his wife and three children. Bulawayo Mayor Senator David Coltart, councillors and senior management visited his home on Thursday to pay their condolences.
Premier Soccer League fixtures
Saturday
Ngezi Platinum v Bikita Minerals (Baobab Stadium), Telone v Herentals (Ascot), Simba Bhora v Caps United (Wadzanayi Stadium) Bulawayo Chiefs v Arenel Movers’ (Luveve Stadium) Yadah FC v ZPC Kariba (Heart Stadium)
Sunday
Chegutu Pirates v Chicken Inn (Baobab Stadium) Dynamos v FC Platinum (Rufaro Stadium), Hwange v Manica Diamonds (Colliery) Highlanders v GreenFuel
