Good evening ladies and gentlemen…
Before I read my speech I would like to honour the 3 members of the executive committee that passed on in July this year, our finance officer, our club patron and the 6 fans that passed on recently. (moment of silence)
It is with immense pride, deep gratitude and great humility that I stand before you today as we continue to celebrate a truly remarkable milestone — 100 years of our football club’s existence.
One hundred years of football.
One hundred years of memories.
One hundred years of triumphs and disappointments.
One hundred years of players who gave everything for this badge.
One hundred years of supporters who stood with this club through every season, every victory and every difficult moment.
Today is therefore much more than the unveiling of a football kit.
Today, we unveil a piece of our history.
This centenary kit is a symbol of where we have come from, who we are today, and the future we are determined to build.
For 100 years, this club has been woven into the fabric of our community.
Generations have walked through the gates of Barbourfields stadium. Many of us here were introduced to this great club at a young age as part of our identity and heritage. Those who have lived before us have passed down stories of legendary matches, unforgettable goals, heroic players and moments that have become part of our collective memory.
The names may have changed.
The generations may have changed.
The football itself may have evolved.
But one thing has remained constant:
The badge. The colours. The pride. The sense of belonging.
That is the true meaning of a football club.
A football club is not simply eleven players on a pitch. It is a community. It is an identity. It is a bond between generations.
And after 100 years, that bond is stronger than ever.
As we celebrate this centenary, we must pause to acknowledge those who made this journey possible.
We remember the founders, the Grandsons of King Lobengula, Albert Khumalo and Rhodes Khumalo who had the great courage and vision to establish this club.
We remember the administrators, coaches, volunteers and staff who worked behind the scenes, often without recognition, to keep the club alive.
We remember the players who wore the black and white shirt with distinction — those whose names became legendary and those whose contributions, though less celebrated, were equally important.
We remember our former executive and board members who carried the responsibility of leadership.
And above all, we remember the supporters. The men, women and children who bought the tickets, travelled to matches, sang from the stands, defended the club in difficult times and celebrated every victory as though it were their own.
To everyone who has played a part in our first 100 years: this centenary belongs to you.
Ladies and gentlemen, It is is my great honour to unveil the special centenary kit. This is not merely a new design. Every detail has been created to tell a story. The colours represent our identity.
The badge represents our heritage. The design pays tribute to the generations who have worn our colours before us. And the centenary mark represents something extraordinary: 100 years of believing in ourselves and never getting extinguished.
When our players walk onto the pitch wearing this kit, they will not be wearing fabric alone. They will be carrying the hopes of generations. They will be carrying the memories of those who came before them. They will be carrying the pride of every supporter who has ever called this club their own.
And they will be reminded that they are part of a story that began 100 years ago — a story that must continue long after all of us are gone.
But a centenary is not only about looking backwards. It is also about looking forward.
We must never become so comfortable celebrating our history that we forget our responsibility to create history of our own. Our ambition is clear. We want to build a club that is professionally run, financially sustainable, competitive on the field and deeply connected to its community. We want to invest in young talent. We want to create opportunities for the next generation of footballers. We want to strengthen our women’s and youth programmes. We want to improve our facilities and our match-day experience. And most importantly, we want to ensure that the next 100 years are worthy of the first. Our centenary is not the end of a journey. It is the beginning of another.
To our players I say this:
When you put on this centenary shirt, remember the responsibility that comes with it. Play with courage. Play with discipline. Play with passion.
Play for one another. And above all, play for the badge. There will be days when the game goes against you. There will be difficult seasons and difficult moments. But remember that you represent something bigger than yourselves. You represent 100 years of history.
To our supporters, I want to offer my deepest appreciation. You are the heartbeat of this club.
A club can have beautiful facilities, talented players and ambitious leadership, but without its supporters, it has no soul.
Your passion for our club is un matched not only in our country but in our region. You have stood by this club in good times and bad. You have travelled great distances.
You have filled the stands. You have raised your voices. You have passed your love of this club from one generation to another. For that, we are profoundly grateful. As chairman, I make you a promise:
We will never take your support for granted. We will continue to work tirelessly to build a club you can be proud of — not just for today, but for the generations that will follow.
I would also like to acknowledge our sponsors, donors, commercial partners and everyone who has supported our club in its first century. Your partnership demonstrates that this club’s influence extends beyond the football pitch. We thank you for believing in our vision.
Ladies and gentlemen,
One hundred years ago, the founders of this club could not have imagined the world we live in today.
They could not have imagined the technology or the global reach of modern football.
But I believe they would recognise one thing immediately: the passion of our Highlanders FC community that has been part of our identity.
Because football’s greatest power has always been its ability to bring people together, that is why, as we unveil this centenary kit, we do so with confidence.
The first 100 years gave us our identity. The next 100 years will demand our ambition.
Let us therefore honour our past, embrace our present and build our future.
Let us ensure that when this club celebrates its 200th anniversary, those who come after us will look back on our generation and say:
They respected the history.
They protected the legacy.
They built for the future.
As I conclude, let me say
Today, we celebrate the past.
Today, we celebrate the present.
And today, we make a commitment to the future.
To the legends who wore the shirt before us — we salute you.
To the supporters who have carried this club for generations — we thank you.
To the players who will wear this special kit — wear it with pride.
And to the generations yet to come — this club belongs to you too.
Ladies and gentlemen, after 100 extraordinary years, our story continues.
It is therefore my great privilege, and with enormous pride, to officially unveil our Centenary Kit.
One club.
One badge.
One family.
One hundred years of history.
And now, together, we begin the next chapter.
Happy Centenary to our great football club.
May our club colours fly for eternity.
Ngiyabonga!!!!