Thousands of Highlanders fans opted not to attend the team’s Castle Lager Premier Soccer League (PSL) match against ZPC Kariba at Barbourfields Stadium on Sunday, showing their support for the club in a unique form of protest.
The boycott stemmed from frustrations over what the club described as unfair treatment by football officials and biased refereeing during their Chibuku Super Cup quarter-final match against Simba Bhora last month.
Approximately 2,000 Bosso supporters gathered at the Highlanders Clubhouse for an event labeled as a fundraiser. This followed the club’s US$6,000 fine from the Premier Soccer League, a penalty related to fan violence at Wadzanayi Stadium in Shamva.
The gathering, effectively organized via social media, was not framed as a boycott but rather an effort to raise money for the team. Nhlanhla Bango Dube, chairperson of the Highlanders Cowdray Park Supporters Chapter, explained that the event was intended to financially assist the club, which has been facing financial challenges.
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“This was not a boycott but a fundraiser for the team,” Dube told Zimpapers Sports Hub. “We wanted to bring money directly to the club to help clear debts. It’s a way for us to unite as fans and support our team, and maybe someday we’ll even raise enough to buy a bus for the club.”
Despite the boycott, around 2,000 fans attended the match at Barbourfields, where Highlanders secured a 2-0 win, with goals from Lynoth Chikuhwa and Mckinnon Mushore.
The boycott traces back to the controversial penalty awarded during Highlanders’ match against Simba Bhora, where referee Cecil Gwezera ruled that Peter Muduhwa had fouled Tinashe Balakasi in the penalty area. Replays showed the foul had occurred outside the box, leading to the match being abandoned after Highlanders’ goalkeeper Ariel Sibanda refused to continue.
Both Highlanders and Simba Bhora were fined US$6,000 for the ensuing crowd trouble.
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