HIGHLANDERS sold two players, defender Khumbulani Banda and striker Cleopas Dube for $75 000 last year compared to 2013 when they only received a paltry $500 for striker Gabriel Nyoni who was loaned to Zifa Southern Region Division side Plumtree Chiefs (then Bulawayo Chiefs).
FORTUNE MBELE SPORTS REPORTER
Banda moved to South African Absa Premier Soccer League (PSL) side Maritzburg United where he was sold for $65 000. Bosso received $45 000 for the defender with $20 000 due after the dreadlocked player has made 20 starts at the South African outfit.
However, according to the financial report presented to the annual general meeting on Sunday at Highlanders clubhouse, South African National First Division One side Witbank Spurs have only paid Bosso $5 000 of the $30 000 for Dube.
The report reads: “Witbank Spurs acquired Cleopas Dube for $30 000, at 31 December 2014, only $5 000 of the amount had been received.”
The other part reads: “Khumbulani Banda was sold for $65 000, however, $20 000 is receivable from Maritzburg United on condition that he starts 20 of the official 30 Absa League matches.”
In his report to club members, chairman Peter Dube confirmed the obtaining scenario on the two players. “The club released Khumbulani Banda to Maritzburg United where we are proud to announce he has settled well. We also released Cleopas Dube to Witbank Spurs.
He too seems to be enjoying game time. While Maritzburg honoured up their payment, Witbank are struggling to meet their obligation,” Dube said.
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Banda was signed from How Mine last year while Dube joined Bosso from Division One side ZPC Hwange at the beginning of 2013.
Former Highlanders vice-chairman Sikhanyiso Moyo discouraged Highlanders from acquiring players from third parties saying the Bulawayo giants did not benefit from Milton Ncube move to Ajax Cape Town and Peter “Rio” Moyo, who has also joined Witbank Spurs.
The two are products of Luveve Big Eleven, owned by Highlanders son, Amin Soma Phiri, who said although Bosso had not benefited financially from their moves to South Africa, the club had gained immensely on the players when they played for Bosso.
Chairman Dube was of the opinion that every player now belongs to someone and the club risked failing to get to capture good players if they were to embrace Moyo’s idea.
Dube said new head coach Bongani Mafu is in the process of searching for new talent for Highlanders for the 2015 Castle Lager PSL season.
“The new coach has already started searching for talent to build our new team. Newspapers have already mentioned a number of them, but as we approach the deadline for registration, the coach is trimming down the trialists.
“We had to recall most of our players who were on loan,” he said.
Bosso received $118 138 from gate takings last year compared to $108 888 in 2013 and could have received more had they not been moved from their traditional home Barbourfields Stadium to Hartsfield Rugby Ground for the last five home matches to make way for the African Union Sports Council Region 5. Under-20 Youth Games.
They got $197 000 as prize money for participating in cup tournaments getting $50 000 for being runners-up in the TM Pick n Pay Challenge Cup, which they lost to Dynamos.
This is less $100 473 than the $297 473 they got in 2013 where despite being runners-up in the league and getting $50 000, they played in more cup tournaments than last year, although only two — the Chibuku Super Cup and One Wallet Cup were major.
They got another $50 000 from losing in the semi-finals of the Chibuku Super Cup, $35 000 for losing in the final of the Gushungo Victory Celebrations Cup and $20 000 for losing in the quarter-finals of the One Wallet Cup and $2 000 after they were knocked out in the first round of the CG Msipa Cup.
The Bulawayo giants pocketed $40 000 for coming fifth in the Castle Lager PSL.
Bosso also picked up $20 464 from SuperSport TV rights compared to 2013’s $18 800.
