Overwhelming turnout at Highlanders Football Club training

There was an overwhelming turnout, especially from Highlanders' 2010 first team players, during day one of the Club's pre-season preparations that were held at White City Stadium yesterday.
Apart from match captain Bekithemba "Super" Ndlovu, who was said to have asked to be excused as he was sorting out some pressing personal issues, club captain Gilbert Banda, Gift Lunga jnr, Innocent Mapuranga, who was first to put on his shorts, Lawson Nkomo, Chipo "Jack Roller" Tsodzo, Bruce Kangwa, Abraham Mbaiwa, Brighton Choto and fringe players Tendai Ndlovu, Honest Moyo, goalkeepers Tolbert Shumba and Bhekinkosi Ndlovu, all turned up on time. Rahman Kutsanzira, Ariel Sibanda and Eric Mudzingwa are with the national team in Harare.
A total of 60 playes, including the first team crop pitched up, with former Zimbabwe Saints and Young Warriors captain Simon Munawa, former Njube Sundowns defender Danisa Phiri and Nqobani Sangweni, who had a short stint at the club under Madinda Ndlovu, being the only notable players with Premier League football experience.
It was also the presence of former Zimbabwe Saint, Warriors and Dynamos striker Agent "Ajira" Sawu on the Bosso bench that sent the sizeable number of followers into guess work.
However, Bosso technical manager, Mkhuphali Masuku poured cold water on Ajira's presence.
"Agent is a friend and qualified coach as well so I asked him to come and assist," said Masuku upon being asked on what brought Sawu to White City Stadium.
Juniors coach Dumaza Dube, manager Jerry Sibanda and team doctor Xolani Ndlovu were on the Bosso technical are while Sawu sat alone concentrating on what was happening in the field of play.
Masuku said they would continue with the assessment of new players until Saturday. "Even then I will not close the door on new player but I am hoping by Saturday, we could be taking shape," said Masuku.
He used the 2010 first team players to assess the Bosso hopefuls, who included about nine former juniors, most of them loaned to Division One teams.
Munawa, who was impressive throughout, anchored for the first team players with young Moyo taking up the left back position while Lunga was pushed to the left side of the midfield.
Railstar's Fortune Ncube also played for the first team. There were, however, some promising young players among the trialists even though most of them were former junior players at the club.
Goalkeepers' trainer Peter Nkomo's son Brian Nkomo, showed a lot of promise when he came in for Moyo in the left back position, so was Sijabuliso Ndlovu.
"Right now I cannot say exactly which players have impressed me in fear of the Manchester Cities of this world who will come with their ready cash to pounce on any player that can make the grade at Highlanders. I must say though that the turnout, especially by the core of the first team, was really refreshing. I am impressed." Said Masuku.
Team manager Sibanda said most of the juniors were expected to come in as the training days progress.
He also expressed satisfaction at the turnout and hoped that it was a sign of better things to come for Bosso.
The club was hit by massive player strikes last season with some unnamed players being quoted in some sections of the media saying they would not return to the club this season.
Financial problems at the club have since been blamed for the departure of Joel and Zephania Ngodzo and lately Brighton Dube to new boys FC Platinum, Menard Mupera's one year contract expired on December 31 last year, so did Francis Kanda, who has since joined Dynamos.