The recognition was given by the bank’s outgoing country head of marketing Desmond Ali when he made his address during the Highlanders’ glittering stars awards night at the clubhouse on Wednesday night.
“Highlanders is an example of good administration. We have total belief in Highlanders in terms of the way they run their club. Very few clubs, if any, in this  country do what this club is doing in terms of having audited accounts   every year,” said Ali to wild applause from  guests that included the guest of honour Welshman Ncube, who is the Minister of Industry and Commerce.

Ali said Highlanders might not have done well this season but the bank remained optimistic that the turnaround was near and when success eventually comes to the club, BancAbc would also be part of that history.
Speaking at the same occasion, the new head of marketing Cynthia Chizwina said the bank felt honoured to be associated with a well administered institution like Highlanders.
“There is no greater honour for us than being associated with a club like Bosso, we are proud of you,” she said.

Chizwina fell short of announcing that the bank would extend their term of sponsorship to Highlanders in 2013 when she urged the club to invest heavily in junior development.
“For starters, our sponsorship is taking care of the first team needs, paying players and technical team salaries so that players have a bit of pressure taken off them so that they concentrate on their core business, that is making sure Bosso wins. We, however, like to urge the club to invest in juniors and I can assure you that money is there for such projects,” said Chizwina, before touching on the contentious issue of elections.

She encouraged the club to hold peaceful elections and promised that whoever would be in charge of the club after the polls, set for the first week of February next year, would still enjoy the bank’s financial support.
Speaking at the same occasion, Highlanders chairman Themba Ndlela thanked the players that stayed with the club throughout the season and reiterated his position on having home-grown talent playing for the club.

“Those vultures that have decided to leave the club will never come back and take your places again, your positions are guaranteed I can assure you on that. Of course we have those that served the club with distinction and have decided to look for greener pastures, we are happy for them,” said Ndlela in apparent reference to outgoing long-serving skipper Gilbert Banda who is now on the FC Platinum books.
Banda received a standing ovation when board chairman, Dumisani Sandi called him to the podium to bid him farewell.

Sandi said the former Bosso talisman was going to the Midlands with the full support of the Highlanders board and executive.
It was an emotional moment when the dreadlocked Banda stood up to receive his Captain’s Award as it suddenly dawned  on everyone, including himself, that it could be the last time that he ever officially associates with his childhood team.

The awards night saw the Highlanders players and the technical team, headed by the ever-humble Mkhuphali Masuku, all clad in expensive designer suits. Former players who recently formed their association were also in attendance with the legendary Madinda Ndlovu coming all the way from Botswana to attend the occasion.
It was refreshing to see the Ndlela executive and the board recognising the former players’  presence with some of them being called up to the podium to hand over prizes to the winning                      players.

Meanwhile, the Minister of Mines and Mining Development Obert Mpofu will donate a full set of uniforms plus other assortments to Highlanders at a function that is set to be held at the Highlanders clubhouse this afternoon.

The donation was supposed to coincide with the Stars’ Awards but Mpofu got tied up with some official duties.

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