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Sikhumbuzo Moyo Senior Sports Reporter
HIGHLANDERS Football Club treasurer Jerry Sibanda could be headed to newly promoted Southern Region Division One League side Bulawayo Golden Stars who are owned by his employers Bulawayo City Council.Bulawayo Golden Stars were promoted from the Zifa Bulawayo Province Division Two League and will now be playing in the second tier league next season and indications are that the council will invest massively in it with the hope of clinching the sole ticket to the elite Premier Soccer League in 2016.

Former How Mine coach Philani Ncube is set to lead the squad in their quest to become the second municipal side to play in the Premiership after Harare City.

A source close to the developments said Sibanda had started setting up structures at the club. He has been busy buying players.

“You’re getting it from a very authoritative source, we’re recalling Jerry Sibanda from Highlanders. Yes, nothing official has been done but that’s just academic, a decision has been made and as I speak to you, Jerry has already started putting up structures at the club,” said a senior council official who requested anonymity as he has no authority to speak to the media.

The official said they were just waiting for the January full council meeting where a resolution will be made to officially recall the Highlanders treasurer.

“We’re viewing it as part of our social responsibility agenda to have a football team owned by us, Harare City has a football team, so does Mutare as well as Gweru and Bulawayo  being the second largest city in the country just has to have one too,” said the council official.

Zifa officials said the team is also likely to change its name to Bulawayo City.

Sibanda’s term at Highlanders officially ends in 2016 and that means the incoming executive, after the February elections, have to co-opt a treasurer.

He was also co-opted by the Peter Dube led executive after the stepping down of then treasurer Odiel Nkomo before the Highlanders members overwhelmingly endorsed him.

Highlanders members are due to vote for the club chairman, secretary and committee member in six weeks’ time.

A Tshabangu, who is in the council’s workstudy department and has previous Premiership experience from Railstars, is expected to land a top post at the club.

Sibanda could not be reached for comment yesterday.