Chivayo dismisses claims he wants to take over Highlanders FC

Businessman and philanthropist Wicknell Chivayo has strongly denied allegations that he intends to take ownership or assume control of Highlanders Football Club, saying his financial support for the Bulawayo giants is driven solely by a personal commitment he made to his late uncle, former Vice President John Landa Nkomo.

In a response to an inquiry by Check Point, Chivayo said suggestions that he harbours ambitions to control the club, which is celebrating 100 years of existence this year, were not only false but "absurd" and shocking.

He said the claims were particularly surprising given that he has repeatedly and publicly explained the reasons behind his assistance to Highlanders, popularly known as Bosso.

Chivayo said his support for the club is rooted in a promise he made to Nkomo, who was a lifelong Highlanders supporter and regarded the club as part of his enduring legacy.

"As I have publicly mentioned before, Nkomo made three heartfelt requests of me: to support the ruling party ZANU PF, to support the John Landa Nkomo Trust and its educational initiatives, and most importantly, to always support Highlanders FC, a club he loved profoundly," said Chivayo.

"For that reason, my support has always been an act of honour for my late uncle and nothing more. I am under no obligation whatsoever to fund the club and I do so purely out of goodwill and respect for his wishes," he added.

Chivayo said he has no intention of owning Highlanders or any other football club, dismissing allegations to the contrary as "entirely false, unfounded and bordering on malice."

"For the avoidance of any doubt, I have no intention whatsoever of owning Highlanders FC, taking control of it or owning any other football club for that matter," he said.

He warned that if his philanthropy, which he said is meant to uplift player welfare and morale, continues to be misrepresented as a power grab, he would consider withdrawing his support to avoid distracting the club from its core mission.

"If my magnanimity and philanthropy are now being distorted into controversy, then I would be prepared at any time to withdraw my support so that the club is not distracted from its core focus on football," said Chivayo.

He stressed that his only interest is to see Highlanders improve on the pitch and compete more effectively in the Premier Soccer League (PSL).

Chivayo also rejected suggestions that his support for Bosso was unique or indicative of ulterior motives, noting that he has assisted other football institutions as part of his broader philanthropy in sport.

He revealed that he recently played a key role in supporting Scottland FC following the appointment of Zimbabwean football legend Peter Ndlovu as the club's team manager.

"Highlanders FC is not the only club I have supported financially. Just last week, I extended significant support to Scottland FC," he said.

"In that light, it is difficult to comprehend why speculative allegations would be selectively targeted at Bosso, when the club has merely been one of several recipients of my support."

Highlanders FC has recently benefited from increased financial backing amid renewed efforts to improve on-field performance and restore the club's competitive edge, developments that have also attracted heightened public scrutiny.