Ricky Zililo Senior Sports Reporter—
HIGHLANDERS’ South African Supporters’ Chapter have organised about 2,000 people to cheer Zimbabwean champions Chicken Inn when they take on Mamelodi Sundowns in the second leg of the Caf Champions League preliminary round match tomorrow night. Chicken Inn were spurred to a 1-0 win over Sundowns in the first leg by a crowd of about 10,000 at Barbourfields Stadium a fortnight ago.
In a telephone interview from his Johannesburg base yesterday, Khumbulani Moyo who is the Highlanders’ South African Supporters’ Chapter secretary appealed to non-Bosso South Africa-based Zimbabweans to rally behind the Gamecocks.
“We were approached by Chicken Inn through their board member Tavengwa Hara two weeks ago to mobilise our members so that they could support the boys when they come for the Sundowns game. We embarked on a series of social media campaigns and as of today we had over 2,000 people who have confirmed that they’re going from Johannesburg to watch the game in Pretoria. We’ve organised transport and it’s only R100 to and from Pretoria. This money also includes R40 entry fee into the stadium,” said Moyo.
Chicken Inn have also sourced four buses that will leave Bulawayo for Pretoria this evening at a charge of R700 for the return trip. The cost also caters for a Chicken Inn T-shirt and a ticket into the stadium.
“We would like to say ‘thank you’ to Highlanders supporters in South Africa who have been organising support for us and we are also grateful to the Zimbabweans based in that country whom we believe will come in their numbers to cheer the boys. As for the buses leaving Bulawayo, we have secured four buses from Bravo Tours at an affordable price and seats are still available. We’ve also added flavour by offering T-shirts for all those who will travel. The buses leave the city at 5PM and will depart Pretoria just after the match,” said Chicken Inn spokesperson Hara.
Chicken Inn’s self-proclaimed number one supporter McCloud Moyo is confident that the Gamecocks will knock Sundowns out of the tournament.
“I believe that the boys need us supporters as their 12th player. I know they’re going to progress to the next stage and make Zimbabwe proud,” said Moyo.