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Former Highlanders player and manager Lawrence Phiri (third from left) casts his vote during the club’s elections yesterday

Sikhumbuzo Moyo Senior Sports Reporter
HIGHLANDERS FC legend Lawrence Phiri says he will return home to play a part at a club that gave him fame. The gangly Phiri is now a board member at Notwane Football Club in Botswana.

He said he was a football person and there was no way he could divorce himself from the game and Highlanders.

“First Zimbabwe is home and secondly Highlanders is home. I’ll come back one day to my home and see how best I can help in whatever capacity,” said the humble Phiri who had people literally queueing to greet him and pose for photos with him on Saturday at the Bosso clubhouse.

After the elections yesterday, board member Luke Mnkandla recognised Phiri’s presence.

Meanwhile, Phiri has encouraged former Highlanders players to acquire coaching qualifications and also not to confine themselves to coaching Highlanders only.

Phiri, who is in the country for a short visit from Botswana, called an impromptu meeting with former Highlanders players at the clubhouse on Saturday which was attended by over 40 former players who included the likes of Billy Sibanda, Douglas Mloyi and Barry Daka whom he played with.

Amin Soma-Phiri, whom Phiri asked to speak on his behalf, said they were greatly touched by the advice from Phiri, who also took the opportunity to invite the former players to Botswana where they will be part of the 50th anniversary celebrations of Notwane.

“He was very clear about acquiring coaching certificates as well as thinking outside the box. He also said while acquiring coaching certificates was a good idea, we should as well strive to get into club administration,” said Amin.

Amin said Lawrence told them never to fight against the club administration and to always support those that would have been elected by the people as well as former players who would have been employed by the system.

“We were all in unison with him that if anyone of us gets employed by the club or gets into club administration, we should all rally behind him as well as the executive of the day because going behind people’s backs and talking ill about them is bad. We were a team during our playing times and so why should we be different now,” said Amin.