By Tapiwa Chawagarira
BULAWAYO — Highlanders’ centenary celebrations will reach one of their major sporting highlights on October 11 when the Bulawayo giants renew their historic rivalry with Dynamos at Barbourfields Stadium.
The exhibition match, scheduled for a 3 pm kick-off, will form part of the inaugural Kuzana Sport and Creative Economy Expo Zimbabwe (SCEEZ), which runs from October 7 to 11 in Bulawayo.
Therefore, the fixture carries significance beyond the traditional rivalry between the two giants, with organisers positioning it as a meeting point for football, sport, entertainment, culture, and the wider creative economy.
The Ministry of Sport, Recreation, Arts and Culture has partnered with Highlanders to host the event, which is expected to bring together athletes, creatives, entrepreneurs, investors, corporates, and other stakeholders under the theme, “From Talent to GDP: Driving Zimbabwe’s Vision 2030 through Sport and Creative Industries.”
Nicholas Nyathi, vice-chairman of the Highlanders’ 100 Years Celebrations Committee, said the club was excited to have this high-profile fixture as part of its milestone celebrations.
“We are excited to have a match of this magnitude to celebrate our 100 years and to support SCEEZ,” Nyathi said.
Highlanders was formed in 1926 by members of the Khumalo Royal Clan, making 2026 a landmark year in the club’s history. The club has lined up a series of activities to mark the centenary, with the Dynamos encounter expected to be one of the biggest sporting events of the celebrations.
The choice of Dynamos adds another layer to the occasion, given the longstanding rivalry between the two clubs and their status as two of Zimbabwe’s most widely supported football teams.
The two sides have already met twice in the 2026 Premier Soccer League season, with the June encounter at Barbourfields ending in a 1-1 draw.
Although the October meeting is an exhibition fixture rather than a league encounter, the history between the clubs means the occasion is expected to retain its competitive character.
Tickets for the centenary exhibition match are now on sale through ZimTickets, with prices set at US$5 for the rest of the ground stand, US$15 for the Wings, and US$25 for VIP.
The Ministry has also highlighted the broader economic potential of the event, noting that a major sporting occasion can generate activity across hospitality, transport, tourism, merchandising, advertising, media, and other businesses linked to the sporting ecosystem.
For Highlanders, the fixture will provide an opportunity to bring together generations of supporters as the club commemorates a century of football history, while for the Kuzana SCEEZ programme, it will serve as a high-profile sporting finale to the five-day event.
With Barbourfields Stadium as the setting, the centenary occasion promises to combine the traditional spectacle of the Battle of Zimbabwe with a broader celebration of sport and the creative industries.
The October 11 encounter will consequently serve two purposes: celebrating Highlanders’ first 100 years and placing football at the centre of a national conversation on the economic and cultural potential of sport.
