Former Highlanders captain Gilbert Banda left the club to join flamboyant Premiership outfit FC Platinum with the blessing of the club, an official of the team has said.
Banda attended Bosso’s awards ceremony on Wednesday night and was presented with a captain’s award by the club’s board president Jonathan Mhlanga at the colourful ceremony.
In an emotional speech before the presentation of the awards, board chairman Dumisani Sandi, said Banda had done well for the club.
Sandi beckoned the former dreadlocked skipper to the podium in the middle of his touching speech and presented him to the applauding crowd that attended the ceremony.
“He (Banda) is leaving Highlanders with our blessing. The young man has done well for Highlanders and we wish him all the best,” Sandi said.
Banda, who had signed a one-year contract with the Bulawayo giants, was registered by the Rahman Gumbo-coached squad for their maiden campaign in the 2012 Caf Champions League.
The inspirational former Highlanders captain left the club together with midfielder Louis Matawu, who has also been registered for the African Safari. The duo donated $7 000 owed to them back to Highlanders.
Highlanders chairman Themba Ndlela has previously said there was no use holding on to a player if he is going for greener pastures.
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He is quoted in the club’s website saying: “Banda gave his all during his time at Bosso and we thank him for his unshaken commitment to the club over the years.
Gilbert is one of the most loyal players that we have ever had and I truly believe that he will return one day wearing a different jacket.
For the record Banda came to us together with Matawu and declared that whatever we still owe them in salary arrears should be donated back to the club.
Banda himself said the club had also done so much for him to be where he is today and so wished to give whatever he could in return prior to his departure,” Ndlela said.
Banda and Matawu left Highlanders as free agents and the club — which has said will now be relying on juniors — is likely to lose most of their senior players, who signed one-year deals at the beginning of the season.
Top goalscorer Graham Ncube says his heart is still at Highlanders, but several clubs including Hwange and Caps United are after his signature.
