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Lawson Nkomo

Bukhosi Mangena, Sports Correspondent
FORMER enterprising Highlanders’ fullback Lawson Nkomo could make a dramatic return to the club where he made a name for himself as he has been training with the Bulawayo giants for the past two weeks.

Nkomo, 27, a dead ball specialist, scored Highlanders’ equaliser in the 1-1 stalemate against Gwanda Select in a pre-season practice match at Phelandaba Stadium on Sunday after coming on as a second half substitute.

He is likely to give Bosso the edge offensively if he impresses new Highlanders’ Dutch coach Erol Akbay who is expected in Bulawayo today to take charge of the first team.

Assistant coach Amini Soma-Phiri and technical adviser Cosmas Zulu have been in charge of Bosso’s pre-season training while Akbay was in his home country awaiting the issuance of a work permit.

Nkomo is a product of the Highlanders’ juniors and came through the ranks until he made the first team in 2011. He left the club for Bantu Rovers after the expiry of his two-year contract in December 2013.

Nkomo again packed his bags and left Bantu Rovers after his deal expired and the club was relegated to the Southern Region Division One league.

Nkomo said he made the decision to try his luck at his boyhood club on the basis of understanding the club’s philosophy.

“I chose Highlanders because that’s where my heart and roots are. The team is the one that moulded me into who I am today and I’ll continue to work hard to prove that I still have it in me, but the final word lies with the coaches and the club,” said Nkomo.

However, Zulu said he was not in a position to comment on any player’s status as only Akbay will decide which players the club must register for the 2016 season.

“I’m not in a position to comment on any player’s performance because at the end of the day the decision to select the players will not lie with me. The coach will be the one who’ll come and name those that will have impressed him,” said Zulu.