HIGHLANDERS senior team is set for a sponsorship deal from Better Brands, which last year funded Bulawayo giants’ youth and women’s teams.
Better Brands is owned by Scott Sakupwanya, Member of Parliament for Mabvuku Constituency and owner of Scottland FC, which was promoted to the Premier Soccer League.
Highlanders’ chairperson Kenneth Mhophe revealed the Better Brands deal to the club members at an annual general meeting held on Sunday.
However, the package of the deal was not announced.
“In this difficult economy and unpredictable operating environment, Highlanders FC is indebted to its corporate partners for their financial and material support. While it is not easy to get sponsorships, it is twice difficult to maintain them,” Mhophe said.
“I therefore, humbly appeal to all of us as Highlanders, in our various levels and positions, by whatever means and actions, to help each other preserve the partnerships we have and always keep our club lean to attract more.”
He added: “For the year 2025, the Better Brands deal has been retained, albeit with a slight shift of focus. You will remember last year the Better Brands deal covered our youth teams as well as the Royals. This time around the deal covers only the senior team, meaning we currently have a gap with regards to Bosso 90, Royals and junior teams respectively.”
Highlanders’ players — Soccer Star of the Year first runner-up Lynoth Chikuhwa, Peter Muduhwa and Godfrey Makaruse — did not renew their contracts with the Bulawayo giants and crossed the floor to Scottland FC, which also attracted Highlanders’ former chief executive officer Ronald Moyo to the same position.
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Sakunda Holdings are Highlanders’ principal sponsors and covers players and office employees’ salaries.
Bosso also have Nyaradzo Life Assurance and Sanctuary Insurance as partners.
Highlanders board of directors chairperson Luke Mnkandla bemoaned the financial situation at the club and said operation at the mine in Inyathi District which the Bulawayo giants got from government cannot start operating due to a lack of resources.
“Despite the financial assistance that we are getting from our sponsor of which we are so grateful, the club still finds itself in financial dire straits…It has become evident that the club does not have the financial resources to execute the mining project. This situation calls for a lot of deep thinking on the best way forward. In the absence of any windfall to the club, the only alternative is to partner those who have the financial muscle and expertise to run the project,” Mnkandla said.
