JOHANNESBURG – DOZENS  of  SA based Highlanders fans  met in  Johannesburg   recently with newly  elected Highlanders FC secretary  general Emmet Ndlovu to try and revive  the team’s local fans committee in SA .
“The  meeting was to give  Highlanders FC fans based in Mzansi a chance to interact with the newly elected Sec General Emmett Ndlovu to set up a Steering Committee for a local fans branch,”says spokesperson of the Highlanders fans committee in SA, Daniel Molekele.
Molokele says the  idea to  revive the  local fans committee was made because of the Bulawayo based soccer giants have a huge following in SA.
“We have always had a local Committee but of late it was inactive. So it is an effort to revive it as the previous one was affected by lack of active support from the Byo based Committee,” explains Molokele adding that the latest efforts  are expected to be more effective because the newly elected committee is now determined to work with the Diaspora.
Molokela says the local fans committee, will among other things help Highlanders move away from its spell of poor performance last year by embarking on a number of activities to improve play such as fundraising.
“We plan to help with fund raising initiatives to boost the club coffers and incentives to motivate the players,” says Molokela adding that the committee will be opening a Bosso fan in Johannesburg soon.
Some of the committee’s planned activities will also  entail  opening other offices in the rest of South Africa’s major cities that will all be selling  membership cards and merchandise.
“SA based fans are desperate to remain connected with the team. so they are keen to buy cards and merchandise,” says Molokela, who said  though it was difficult to give a specific figure on the team’s fan base in SA runs into hundreds of thousands
Also in the pipeline are  plans to have Highlanders to play friendlies against  top, SA premier soccer league teams such as  Orlando Pirates, Sundowns and Kaizer Chiefs.
Adds Molokela:”We want to seriously and effectively  help grow and promote the Bosso brand in SA.” – www.zimSinsa.com
