Highlanders Football Club has unveiled a tombstone for its co-founder, Prince Albert Njube Khumalo, at the Khumalo family homestead in Gwatemba, Matabeleland South, as part of its centenary celebrations.
The ceremony, held on Saturday, honoured Prince Albert, who founded the club alongside his brother, Prince Rhodes Khumalo, in 1926.
Born in 1902, Prince Albert died in 1957. The tombstone unveiling was part of the club’s efforts to recognise its founders and preserve its history as it marks 100 years of existence.
Family spokesperson Peter Zwide Khumalo said the gesture was an important recognition of the Khumalo family’s contribution to the establishment of one of Zimbabwe’s most prominent football clubs.
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“We are now in 2026, the whole of Highlanders is here. It is not a menial reason that they are all here. It is because 100 years ago, Prince Albert and his brother founded that team,” Khumalo said.
He described the occasion as significant for both the Ndebele nation and the club, saying it was an opportunity to celebrate the founders’ vision and legacy.
“We are not here today to mourn the loss of the prince, but we are here to celebrate his life, his contribution to the team and to show gratitude to the club for this important gesture,” he said.
Khumalo said the club’s success and standing in Zimbabwean football were rooted in the vision of its founders, who worked alongside other individuals in establishing the team.
Highlanders board chairperson Luke Mnkandla said the club had fulfilled its commitment to honour Prince Albert through contributions from partners and supporters.
“The club on its own could not have managed to do everything on its own, but we have various stakeholders who supported us, together with all our fans,” he said.
Mnkandla said the current leadership had made efforts to trace the club’s history and recognise individuals who played significant roles in its establishment and development.
He said during the club’s 90th anniversary celebrations, its leadership travelled to South Africa to locate the resting place of co-founder Prince Rhodes Khumalo, which they found to be well maintained.
However, the condition of Prince Albert’s resting place prompted the club to take steps to restore and preserve his legacy.
“But when we came to see where Prince Albert was, the story was different. We tried to maintain it then. But this year, as we commemorate our 100 years anniversary, the responsible committee saw it fit that we do this work,” Mnkandla said.
He urged future club leaders to continue researching Highlanders’ history and recognising those who had contributed to its growth over the years.
“I would like to urge those who will come after us, to do the same, and look for people who led the team over the years. It is important for all those people to be recognised and for everyone else to know who they are,” he said.
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