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Benjani urges Bosso to honour departed leaders with victory
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Highlanders coach Benjani Mwaruwari has challenged his players to honour the memory of four senior club figures who died in a road accident by producing a strong performance against Caps United in Sunday's Castle Lager Premier Soccer League clash at Rufaro Stadium.
The match will be Highlanders' first since the deaths of club chairman Kenneth Mhlophe, vice-chairman Fiso Siziba, board member responsible for finance Nkani Khoza and club member Mbalenhle Sibanda.
The quartet died last Thursday evening, about 26 hours after watching Highlanders lose 1-0 to ZPC Kariba at Nyamhunga Stadium. They have since been laid to rest.
Mhlophe was buried with full military honours at Lady Stanley Cemetery in Bulawayo on Tuesday, while Sibanda was buried at her family home in the Hlatshwayo area of Insiza District. Siziba and Khoza were buried at Lady Stanley Cemetery on Monday.
Despite the tragedy, Mwaruwari said the team had to remain focused on its football commitments.
"We have to work, what can we do?" he said.
Highlanders travel to Harare hoping to secure maximum points against Caps United as they seek to remain in contention in the Premier Soccer League title race.
Mwaruwari revealed that the club was arranging counselling sessions to help players cope with the emotional impact of the tragedy.
"I will be meeting the acting chairman this afternoon. I will raise it with him that the boys need to be put in the right psychological mindset ahead of the match," he said.
"It was not easy. They were with the leadership in Kariba and then boom, something like that happens. It is bound to have an effect. As a club, we are a family."
The former Zimbabwe international said professional counselling was essential before the team travelled to Harare.
"We need counselling for the boys; we need to do it on Friday before we leave for the weekend match. I will speak to the chairman this afternoon.
"We need to manage the situation delicately. We have not trained from Thursday last week because of the tragedy," Mwaruwari said.
The coach, however, reported a clean bill of health ahead of the fixture, with all players available for selection as Highlanders look to dedicate the match to the four departed members of the Bosso family.
The match will be Highlanders' first since the deaths of club chairman Kenneth Mhlophe, vice-chairman Fiso Siziba, board member responsible for finance Nkani Khoza and club member Mbalenhle Sibanda.
The quartet died last Thursday evening, about 26 hours after watching Highlanders lose 1-0 to ZPC Kariba at Nyamhunga Stadium. They have since been laid to rest.
Mhlophe was buried with full military honours at Lady Stanley Cemetery in Bulawayo on Tuesday, while Sibanda was buried at her family home in the Hlatshwayo area of Insiza District. Siziba and Khoza were buried at Lady Stanley Cemetery on Monday.
Despite the tragedy, Mwaruwari said the team had to remain focused on its football commitments.
"We have to work, what can we do?" he said.
Highlanders travel to Harare hoping to secure maximum points against Caps United as they seek to remain in contention in the Premier Soccer League title race.
Mwaruwari revealed that the club was arranging counselling sessions to help players cope with the emotional impact of the tragedy.
"I will be meeting the acting chairman this afternoon. I will raise it with him that the boys need to be put in the right psychological mindset ahead of the match," he said.
"It was not easy. They were with the leadership in Kariba and then boom, something like that happens. It is bound to have an effect. As a club, we are a family."
The former Zimbabwe international said professional counselling was essential before the team travelled to Harare.
"We need counselling for the boys; we need to do it on Friday before we leave for the weekend match. I will speak to the chairman this afternoon.
"We need to manage the situation delicately. We have not trained from Thursday last week because of the tragedy," Mwaruwari said.
The coach, however, reported a clean bill of health ahead of the fixture, with all players available for selection as Highlanders look to dedicate the match to the four departed members of the Bosso family.
Source - the herald
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