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Sikhumbuzo Moyo, Senior Sports Reporter
HIGHLANDERS Royals and their netball counterparts, Queens have taken over the running of Hlabangana Sports Club situated at the Highlanders Sports Club in an effort to make the two clubs self reliant.

Acting Highlanders chairman Modern Ngwenya confirmed the latest development and said modalities on how the two teams will run the club are still being worked out.

“We long agreed that our football and netball teams can use Hlabangana Sports Club and just recently they started doing some clean up inside there to make sure the place is presentable. I understand they want to make it an exclusive pub with lounge suites,” said Ngwenya.

Former Highlanders player and manager Lawrence Lofty Phiri is mediating the deal but it is believed Highlanders wants the two teams to get their stocks from the main club house and put their own mark up for profits.

“We are happy that we have been given Hlabangana Sports Club but we feel the position that we get stocks from the club house is putting us in a rather difficult position because it will be hard for patrons to buy beer at a price higher than that of the club house barely 200 metres away. It would be okay if they allow us to order straight from the suppliers and sell at the same price as the main club, we will not be competing but that little that we will get will go a long way for us,” said a member of the Royals executive.

Highlanders Queens Netball Club plays in the Bulawayo Netball League while the football team, Royals play in the Southern Region Women Football Association League which also has a team in Hwange making their budget needs critical. They have been relying mainly on the benevolence of Bosso life member and businessman Kenneth Mhlophe.

Hlabangana Sports Club, named after the late founder member, player and club president Nsele, has been lying idle for a long time now with the club leadership sometimes leasing it out for some private functions. It was originally meant for card carrying Highlanders members who wanted to enjoy their drink in a relaxed atmosphere compared to the main club house.