HIGHLANDERS Legends last weekend had a successful trip to Botswana where they emerged victorious at an invitational tournament to celebrate beMobile outfit Notwane Football Club’s 50th anniversary.
BY SAKHELENI NXUMALO
The retired Highlanders soccer greats beat their Notwane counterparts 4-2 in the semifinals, to progress to the final where they triumphed 4-3 on penalties over Swift XI, a select side made up of retired footballers drawn from various Botswana clubs.
Gift Lunga Snr and Tobias Mudyambanje were on target in the game against the Notwane veterans with the former bagging a hat-trick.
Former Highlanders player and team manager Lawrence “Lofty” Phiri, who is a Notwane Football Club board member, was behind the move to extend an invitation to his former club to take part in the Botswana club’s festivities.
The Bosso senior team had been included in the invitation but only the veterans’ side was able to travel to Botswana.
Highlanders Legends secretary Marko Dube said their Notwane counterparts had plans to reciprocate their visit in the near future.
“We are hoping that our trip to Botswana is the start of many such ventures and preparations are already in motion for the Notwane veterans to visit Zimbabwe,” Dube said.
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He made a plea to other former Highlanders players locally and outside the country to be part of this initiative. “It is important to have such a platform where we can meet and socialise rather than converge only when one of us has passed away,” he added.
Former Highlanders stars who travelled to Botswana include Simon Sibanda, Sam Sibanda, Blessing Gumiso, Master Masiku, Tobias Mudyambanje, Barry Daka, Gift Lunga Senior, Colsen Mabeza, Themba Ncube and Dube.
Former Ziscosteel player and Mighty Warriors coach Benedict Moyo travelled as a guest player while Botswana-based former Bosso player Themba Lunga and ex Zimbabwe Saints star Chemi Hunidzarira also featured for the Highlanders Legends.