Highlanders 90 years celebrations date set

HIGHLANDERS FC will launch their 90th anniversary celebrations at a grand event at Barbourfields Stadium on February 28.

The club's 90th celebrations committee chairman Luke Mnkandla told a gathering at Amakhosi Cultural Centre on Sunday that they would begin with street marches at 9AM and round off with entertainment at 11PM.

There will be two main processions, carnival style, with one starting from the Magwegwe Water Tower and Youth Centre that will turn left into Masiyephambili Drive and right into Old Lobengula, left into Njube, right into Mpopoma up to Inyathi Youth Centre. The procession will then head into Luveve Road and left into Ngcebetsha Road to Barbourfields Stadium.

The other procession will start at Highlanders club house and move into Joshua Mqabuko Nkomo Street, right into 6th Avenue before turning right into Ngcebetsha Road to Barbourfields. The marches will involve drum majorettes, football teams, sporting teams, dancers, drummers, a brass band and artistes.

Mnkandla said they had also lined up a Royal Cup tournament featuring PSL teams from Matabeleland.

"We are putting final touches to the Royal Cup tournament and we expect the teams to provide quality entertainment on the day because they are in the top tier league," said Mnkandla.

"We are certain people will enjoy the games since we are in the off-season. We will be naming the teams in due course. There will be cultural entertainment galore on the day, both during the march and at the stadium, with the music show as the last act of the day."

Mnkandla said those interested in taking part should contact him through the club's offices.

Cont Mhlanga, the consultant for Bosso 90th anniversary celebrations, said they had secured Barbourfields Stadium at no cost after the local authority waived charges for the day. Harvest House International Church has committed to providing the stage and negotiating with Zesa, floodlights charges are still ongoing.

Mhlanga said they are operating on a zero budget and urged well wishers to partner them in making the event a success.

Entry into the celebrations will be $1 for those wearing club colours and $5 for others.

Mnkandla also revealed that there was low uptake for Bosso's planned Grahamstown trip and urged people to come forward, saying the trip was important as they want to honour one of the club's founders Rhodes Khumalo.

The five-day trip costs $440 per individual and will be from February 18.

"Yes, we have a few individuals that have registered but we need more people to come on board because this is an important trip. We are going to honour Rhodes Khumalo for giving us the team and also create a bond with his descendants, whom we would want to visit Bulawayo and watch the team (playing)," Mnkandla said.

There will be other celebrations throughout the year that will see entertainment being held before every home game, while plans are also underway for Bosso to play an international friendly against either Orlando Pirates or Kaizer Chiefs or another team from the southern African region should these two be unavailable.

A music album featuring all songs that have been composed about Highlanders is being compiled and is likely to be released around midyear.