The Premier Soccer League (PSL) has taken the unprecedented step of postponing Sunday’s highly anticipated Castle Lager Premier Soccer League fixture between Highlanders FC and Chicken Inn FC, a decision that reverberates with profound sorrow across the Zimbabwean football landscape.
This deferment comes as the entire football community grapples with the tragic loss of three senior Highlanders Football Club executive members in a devastating road traffic accident.
The football fraternity is in mourning following the untimely deaths of PSL Vice Chairman and Highlanders Chairman, Retired Colonel Kenneth Mhlophe; Highlanders Vice Chairman Sifiso Siziba; and the club’s Treasurer, Nkani Khoza. Their passing has sent shockwaves far beyond the confines of Bulawayo, uniting clubs, players, and supporters in a shared moment of grief.
In a poignant statement, the PSL articulated that the postponement was an essential mark of respect for the departed administrators, whose dedication and passion were cornerstones of the local game. “The Premier Soccer League advises all stakeholders that the Castle Lager PSL fixture between Highlanders FC and Chicken Inn FC, scheduled for Sunday, 26 July 2026, has been postponed following the passing of PSL Vice Chairman, Rtd. Col. Kenneth Mhlophe, Highlanders FC Vice Chairman, Sifiso Siziba, and Treasurer, Nkani Khoza,” the league announced, underscoring the gravity of the loss.
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Demonstrating a collective outpouring of solidarity, the PSL has further called upon all clubs and football stakeholders to observe a minute of silence before the commencement of all Matchday 25 fixtures. In a visible display of unity and remembrance, all participating clubs have been requested to don black armbands during this weekend’s matches, a gesture that transcends club rivalries to honor the enduring legacy of the deceased.
“We call upon all clubs and football stakeholders to officially observe a moment of silence in respect and honour of their legacy before the commencement of all Matchday 25 fixtures. All clubs are requested to participate in this tribute by wearing black armbands during the weekend matches,” the statement urged, fostering a nationwide tribute.
Echoing the sentiments of profound loss, the Zimbabwe Football Association (ZIFA) described the deaths of the three Highlanders executive members as an “immeasurable loss” not only to the Bulawayo giants but to the entirety of Zimbabwean football. ZIFA’s statement highlighted the trio’s “unwavering commitment, selfless service, and leadership,” which, it noted, had forged an “enduring contribution to one of the country’s most iconic football institutions.”
The tragedy strikes with particular poignancy as Highlanders FC navigates its centenary year—a milestone that was meant to be a jubilant celebration of a century of excellence, resilience, and pride. Instead, the “Bosso family,” as Highlanders is affectionately known, has been plunged into profound grief, a sorrow now shared by the wider football family.
ZIFA President Nqobile Magwizi paid a heartfelt tribute, eulogizing the administrators as “devoted servants of Zimbabwean football whose passion and commitment helped shape one of our nation’s greatest football institutions.” Magwizi conveyed the collective devastation: “We are devastated by this heartbreaking tragedy, and our thoughts and prayers are with the families of Kenneth Mhlophe, Fiso Siziba, and Nkani Khoza, as well as the entire Highlanders family.”
“It is especially painful that this loss comes during Highlanders’ centenary year, a time that should have been filled with celebration and reflection on a remarkable legacy. Instead, the football family is united in mourning. We pray that God grants comfort, strength, and peace to every grieving heart, and may the souls of our departed brothers rest in eternal peace,” Magwizi concluded, articulating the deep empathy felt across the sport.
ZIFA extended its deepest condolences to the bereaved families, the Highlanders executive committee, players, technical team, members, and supporters, reaffirming its unwavering solidarity with the club and the broader football community during this exceptionally difficult period. The tragic passing of Mhlophe, Siziba, and Khoza has cast a somber pall over Zimbabwean football, yet it has also galvanized a powerful demonstration of unity and mutual support, as clubs and supporters prepare to honor their memory throughout this weekend’s Premier Soccer League fixtures.