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Part of the University of Notre Dame football team which takes on Bulawayo giants Highlanders at Barbourfields Stadium on Saturday after touching down at Joshua Mqabuko Nkomo Airport last week. Inset — Bosso goalkeepers’ coach Peter Nkomo (left) with former Highlanders coach Bobby Clark

Ricky Zililo Senior Sports Reporter
BULAWAYO soccer giants and Premiership pacesetters Highlanders host the visiting American University of Notre Dame football team at Barbourfields Stadium on Saturday.
The visitors, who are in the country for three weeks, yesterday played FC Platinum at Mandava Stadium in Zvishavane and lost 0-2. They are coached by ex-Bosso gaffer Bobby Clark.

What makes Saturday’s clash even more remarkable is the historic relationship between Clark and Highlanders whom he coached between 1983-84.

Clark gave topflight maiden appearances to the likes of Willard Khumalo, the late Mercedes “Rambo” Sibanda, Sydney Zimunya, Nhamo Shambira and Netsai “Super” Moyo who belonged to the class of Highlanders 1982 Under-18 juniors popularly known as “Liverpool”. These players went on to be household names in Zimbabwean football.

Thirty years after leaving the country, Clark will for the first time face his former club who are enjoying a purple patch in the domestic league.

Some of the players that he coached who will be on the Bosso bench are Willard Khumalo and Peter Nkomo who are now the Highlanders welfare manager and goalkeepers’ trainer respectively.

The University of Notre Dame football team was at Emagumeni when Highlanders laboured to a 1-0 win against Harare City last week and had a glimpse of what to expect at the weekend.

After picking up maximum points against Harare City, Highlanders turned on the fire and beat Buffaloes 3-1 in Mutare with Charles Sibanda getting a hattrick.

Highlanders chairman Peter Dube yesterday said they are excited to play host to Clark “who is part of the important history of the club after laying the foundation that the institution stands on.”

He urged their supporters to come in their numbers as they mean business.
“Obviously this might be a friendly game for us but remember we are building a team which we want to put smiles back on the supporters.

“This is an important game for us as we want to keep the fire burning as we try to maintain the momentum during the weekend break owing to national team commitments.

“What also makes this game special is that if you recall, when Clark left, he left things intact in as far as team performance was concerned and this is the time to show him that the amount of work he put in did not go down the drain but we used it to strengthen the club,” said Dube.

Some of the Highlanders juniors’ products that are in the first team likely to face Clark’s team include Erick Mudzingwa, Knox Mutizwa, goalkeeper Ariel Sibanda, strikers Charles Sibanda and Ozias Zibande, Joel Ngodzo and Welcome Ndiweni.

Those that were registered in the slots meant for Under-20s are Young Warriors’ Mgcini Sibanda, Graciano Chakafana, Godknows Makaruse, Nkosana Maseko and Bothwell Nyathi.

Clark, who declared that Zimbabwe has special memories for him, is also on the lookout for talent.
“During my time here I will help with clinics and, of course, I will be on the lookout for young talent but it has to be good students,” he said.

Meanwhile, today University of Notre Dame take on Plumtree Chiefs at White City Stadium.
They will wrap up their tour of Zimbabwe with a game against Bantu Rovers next week.