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Ricky Zililo Senior Sports Reporter
HIGHLANDERS’ players called off their strike yesterday and returned to training at Barbourfields Stadium after unidentified club benefactors cleared part of the team’s outstanding winning bonuses.The players had refused to train on Wednesday afternoon protesting over unpaid winning bonuses that amounted to $480 per player.

Bosso, who don’t pay bonuses for draws, owe the players winning bonuses for three matches they won against Premier Soccer League newcomers Dongo Sawmills, Flame Lily and Whawha.

The Bulawayo giants pay each player $170 in bonuses for away wins and $140 for home games meaning that the club owed the players a combined $8,640 for winning two away encounters and one home game.

Highlanders’ chief executive officer Ndumiso Gumede confirmed that the club had paid the disgruntled players part of their outstanding allowances.

He said they had been shocked by the players’ industrial action since club officials had met them last Saturday and made undertakings to clear the outstanding allowances.

“We ran around and secured money from some of our benefactors so that we pay them part of the bonuses. We had a motivational talk with the players when they were in camp and the board chairman (Mgcini Nkolomi) told them that management is fully behind the team even when they aren’t playing well. We told them that they should improve their play so that people start coming to the ground and if they do, then there’s no reason not to pay them,” Gumede said.

By engaging in industrial action, Gumede said, the players were being ill-advised as they had jeopardised preparations for tomorrow’s crucial encounter against FC Platinum in Zvishavane.

“After meeting the players, one begins to think that they aren’t acting in good faith. Look, by going on strike, this move takes focus away from the game.

“They know that if they beat FC Platinum, then the next game against How Mine will attract a good crowd and enable us to pay them. But as it is, they’ve wasted a day and surely they’ve jeopardised chances of winning that game.”

The club pays its bonuses from gate takings and fans have been staying away from Bosso’s home games because of the team’s poor performance.

Gumede said the club spends about $2,500 to prepare for a match and have been generating about $3,000 per match which was worrying them.

Had the players refused to train yesterday, Highlanders were prepared to have the match postponed.

Gumede said in the past, they would have sent a makeshift squad to face FC Platinum but because of new rules and regulations, they could not take their Division Two Soccer League side for a topflight game.

On Wednesday, some players said non- payment of their bonuses was affecting their concentration.

Highlanders’ coach Bongani Mafu is hopeful that his team will beat FC Platinum to collect maximum points.

It remains to be seen whether the players will return to the right frame of mind to face the

vociferous platinum miners supporters at Mandava Stadium.