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Bukhosi Mangena Sports Correspondent
A 13-MEMBER Highlanders FC delegation travelling to Grahamstown, South Africa to visit the grave of Bosso founder Prince Rhodes Njube Khumalo left Bulawayo by road yesterday afternoon.

The tour is part of the club’s 90th anniversary celebrations.

Among the travelling party were Highlanders chief executive officer Ndumiso Gumede, newly elected vice-chairman Modern Ngwenya and the traditional representation duo of Chief Nyangazonke of Kezi and a descendent of King Mzilikazi Peter Zwide Khumalo.

Highlanders’ board member Luke Mnkandla said he was happy that members of the club managed to travel to South Africa adding that as Bosso they are honoured to visit the grave of their founder.

“It’s really good to see this coming to pass. We invested so much time and energy organising this trip which has a significant meaning to the history of the club. We’re really honoured as a club to visit the grave of the founder of the club as he is the one who paved the way for what we deem as our heritage nowadays,” said Mnkandla.

The tour was open to present and former players, club officials, leaders and representatives of invited organisations, media houses and club supporters.

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

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.

Their itinerary will see them reaching South Africa today where they will rest in Johannesburg before flying to Port Elizabeth for the main festivities.

The visiting Bosso members are expected back on Monday.