Outgoing Highlanders coach Erol Akbay says the club’s executive is a big joke and treated him and his players worse than animals.

Akbay said in his two years at the club, he has deduced that the club will not succeed with the way it is run.

“ We are sleeping in places where even animals cannot sleep. The players are not even provided with food, there is no camping. We are made to travel to Harare play and then come back. This is a big joke, they are not serious,” said Akbay.

“ They told me that Highlanders are the people’s team but where are the people. They said there are a lot of business people who would chip in to help the club but it has been two years and I haven’t seen these people. Nobody has come to help the team and the executive is also not really serious. I have nothing to advise them, after two weeks I will be going home,” added Akbay.

Highlanders deceived its fans this year with an inconsistent performance after showing much promise last season in Akbay’s maiden season in which they finished strongly. Akbay blames this year’s below par performance to the non replacement with quality of key players Knox Mutizwa, Prince Dube and Bruce Kangwa who left the club in a space of a year. The Dutchman even claimed that rivals Dynamos who are running for the title with averaged players, were better run than Highlanders.