THE Zimbabwe Golf Association (ZGA) has joined the growing list of stakeholders celebrating Highlanders' centenary, with golfers from across the country and South Africa expected to participate in a charity golf tournament in honour of the Bulawayo giants.
The Highlanders Charity Golf Day, launched on Friday at a local hotel, will be held at Bulawayo Country on August 14 as part of activities marking Bosso's 100 years of existence.
ZGA former president, now board member Martin Chikwana, a self-confessed Highlanders supporter, said the event would bring together two sporting disciplines in celebration of a milestone few organisations attain.
"Today we are talking about the infusion of two sporting disciplines which are going to relate with each other for purposes of celebrating a team which is celebrating an existence of 100 years," Chikwanha said.
"It is something unique in our lifetime. It is something that most of us might never have the opportunity of celebrating again. One hundred years is a long journey and for Highlanders to be celebrating this is something that I am taking very seriously."
Chikwanha said the tournament would be open to golfers from across Zimbabwe and beyond, revealing that a South African contingent had already confirmed participation.
"The event is going to be called the Highlanders Charity Golf Day and it will be held at Bulawayo Golf Club on August 14. The people invited to participate are all golfers in the country and we even have people coming from outside Zimbabwe who have put their names down to participate," he said.
"I know there is a team coming from South Africa that will participate in this event."
He added that organisers were also hoping to attract participation from football clubs to strengthen ties between the two sporting codes.
"We are hoping to invite other football teams to put in their teams so that they can also participate in the celebrations. Not only will we be celebrating Highlanders, but the relationship between football and golf could be the beginning of future events of this nature," Chikwanha said.
Highlanders Charity Golf Day organising committee chairman Roger Muhlwa said the event was a fitting tribute to a club that has become one of Zimbabwe's enduring sporting institutions.
Muhlwa, a former Highlanders chairman and passionate golfer, said the tournament was a natural way for the golfing fraternity to honour Bosso's century-long journey.
"When I was asked by the executive and board to be involved in the centenary celebrations, it was quite a joy,” he said.
“They decided golf should also celebrate with Highlanders and Highlanders should celebrate with golf. Hence, we formed this committee.”
Muhlwa said there was nothing unusual about golf being part of the celebrations, arguing that sport should unite rather than divide disciplines.
"Somebody might ask what golf has got to do with Highlanders. I am a golfer and I am a Highlanders person,” he said. “It is not different. It is sport, although it has different rules. It is worth us getting together and saying congratulations to Highlanders for reaching 100 years.”
He challenged the media and supporters to play a positive role in preserving the club's legacy.
"We implore the media to be positive and help build whatever has survived up to now. Highlanders have done well to reach this stage and deserve to be celebrated."
The charity golf day is one of several events lined up to commemorate Highlanders' centenary year, with organisers expecting strong participation from golfers, football stakeholders and supporters keen to honour one of Zimbabwe's most successful and historic football clubs.