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Bukhosi Mangena Sports Correspondent
BULAWAYO giants Highlanders will next month embark on a five-day cultural tour of South Africa to visit the grave of its founder Prince Rhodes Njube Khumalo in Grahamstown, Eastern Cape Province, as part of the club’s 90th anniversary celebrations.

Highlanders were formed in 1926 by Khumalo and were initially called Lions Football Club until 1936 when they were renamed Matabeleland Highlanders Football Club. The name Matabeleland was dropped in 1975.

The tour has been scheduled for February 18-22 and is open to present and former players, club officials, leaders and representatives of invited organisations, media houses and club supporters.

The main festivities will be held at the Grahamstown Community Hall on February 20.

Bosso are also working on roping in the South Africa Football Association (Safa) to magnify the event and they will also explore the possibility of engaging surviving members of Njube’s family to visit Bulawayo.

Highlanders’ board member Luke Mnkandla confirmed the tour and said it was largely aimed at paying tribute to their founder as the club celebrates its 90-year milestone.

“We’ll go on a cultural tour and visit the grave of the club’s founder Rhodes in Grahamstown to pay tribute to him for what he did by founding the club,” said Mnkandla.

“This is in line with our anniversary celebrations and all leaders are invited to travel with us for a fee. We’re, however, still engaging Safa to make it a big event and if possible, we’ll organise with Rhodes’ surviving daughter to visit Bulawayo,” he said.