News / Local
Obert Mpofu rescues Bosso
22 Apr 2011 at 06:18hrs | Views
MINISTER of Mines Obert Mpofu has come to the rescue of Highlanders by paying off the amount owed to coach Mohamed Fathi.
The Egyptian coach was fired last year.
"I am happy to announce that the Fathi issue will be put to rest today thanks to the benevolence of Minister Mpofu who has given us US$22 000 that will also cover all the costs incurred," said club chairman Themba Ndlela during a press conference yesterday.
However, when contacted last night, Fathi's manager Omega Sibanda said he had not received the payment.
"I am not sure whether our lawyer has received the money but I have not," said Sibanda.
Sibanda on Wednesday night told reporters that he has since stopped the pending sale by public auction of the attached Bosso property.
The sale was supposed to have taken place yesterday.
The debt had resulted in the club's property being attached by the Deputy Sheriff and was meant to go under the hammer yesterday.
Mpofu, who said he drove all the way from Harare on Wednesday night to come and rescue Highlanders, said he was touched by the reports in the media that Highlanders was in dire straits.
"During the Independence Day celebrations at White City Stadium some concerned supporters approached me about the plight of Highlanders and asked me to assist.
"I then told them that I have not been approached," said Mpofu. He said a formal approach was then made in which the reality facing Highlanders was put across by the chairman Ndlela and treasurer Odiel Nkomo.
"My appeal to the Highlanders leadership is to engage us in such important issues, we are the leaders of this region and the very people we lead are supporters and members of this great club.
"I also appeal to my colleagues to identify themselves with the communities they serve.
"Without Bosso they certainly may not be Bulawayo hence people should put their money where their mouth is," said Mpofu.
He said this was the first help that he will render to the club but promised that Highlanders will never again go through the same painful experience.
Mpofu said some people might view his assistance to Highlanders in a different way "but I don't care as I have no political ambitions in Bulawayo, my constituency is Umguza and no one will take it away from me."
"In other regions when there is a serious problem of this nature people from different backgrounds come together and tackle it but ngapha it's different.
"Highlanders binds people together and when the people's team is going through this painful episode we should be seen to be acting.
"Highlanders is more than a team, it's a people's project," said Mpofu.
Last week Zanu-PF chairman Simon Khaya-Moyo challenged the entire Highlanders leadership to be innovative and approach serious stakeholders in an effort to serve the imminent collapse of the club.
Meanwhile, Astra Holdings last night donated a beast and US$2 500 to Highlanders as part of the ongoing Rescue Highlanders campaign.
Vice-President John Landa Nkomo's son, Jabulani, is the managing director of the company.
The Egyptian coach was fired last year.
"I am happy to announce that the Fathi issue will be put to rest today thanks to the benevolence of Minister Mpofu who has given us US$22 000 that will also cover all the costs incurred," said club chairman Themba Ndlela during a press conference yesterday.
However, when contacted last night, Fathi's manager Omega Sibanda said he had not received the payment.
"I am not sure whether our lawyer has received the money but I have not," said Sibanda.
Sibanda on Wednesday night told reporters that he has since stopped the pending sale by public auction of the attached Bosso property.
The sale was supposed to have taken place yesterday.
The debt had resulted in the club's property being attached by the Deputy Sheriff and was meant to go under the hammer yesterday.
Mpofu, who said he drove all the way from Harare on Wednesday night to come and rescue Highlanders, said he was touched by the reports in the media that Highlanders was in dire straits.
"During the Independence Day celebrations at White City Stadium some concerned supporters approached me about the plight of Highlanders and asked me to assist.
"I then told them that I have not been approached," said Mpofu. He said a formal approach was then made in which the reality facing Highlanders was put across by the chairman Ndlela and treasurer Odiel Nkomo.
"My appeal to the Highlanders leadership is to engage us in such important issues, we are the leaders of this region and the very people we lead are supporters and members of this great club.
"I also appeal to my colleagues to identify themselves with the communities they serve.
"Without Bosso they certainly may not be Bulawayo hence people should put their money where their mouth is," said Mpofu.
He said this was the first help that he will render to the club but promised that Highlanders will never again go through the same painful experience.
Mpofu said some people might view his assistance to Highlanders in a different way "but I don't care as I have no political ambitions in Bulawayo, my constituency is Umguza and no one will take it away from me."
"In other regions when there is a serious problem of this nature people from different backgrounds come together and tackle it but ngapha it's different.
"Highlanders binds people together and when the people's team is going through this painful episode we should be seen to be acting.
"Highlanders is more than a team, it's a people's project," said Mpofu.
Last week Zanu-PF chairman Simon Khaya-Moyo challenged the entire Highlanders leadership to be innovative and approach serious stakeholders in an effort to serve the imminent collapse of the club.
Meanwhile, Astra Holdings last night donated a beast and US$2 500 to Highlanders as part of the ongoing Rescue Highlanders campaign.
Vice-President John Landa Nkomo's son, Jabulani, is the managing director of the company.
Source - Chronicle
