Seventeen Highlanders players reportedly packed their bags and left the camp venue on Tuesday evening after failing to forge a way forward with the club over non-payment of January wages.

The players had protested for two days by refusing to hold training sessions as they began the pre-season preparations on Monday.

According to The Chronicle, senior players such as Ariel Sibanda, Peter Muduhwa, Tendai Ndlovu and Charlton Siamalonga negotiated a $200 cushioning allowance on behalf of their teammates, but the club’s executive only offered half of the amount which they rejected.

Bosso also revealed that they would clear all the outstanding dues once they finalised a sponsorship deal with mobile network operator NetOne.

After the talks deadlocked, Sibanda, Muduhwa, McClive Phiri, Tendai Ndlovu, Mbongeni Ndlovu, Siamalonga, Nedrick Madeya, Bukhosi Ncube and Andrew Mbeba led the walkout late on Tuesday afternoon.

They were joined by Denzel Khumalo, Ray Lunga, Brian Banda, Godfrey Makaruse, Tinashe Makanda and Munyaradzi Chitambwe.

The newspaper also said that only Nqobizitha Masuku, Cleopas Kapupurika, Mbekezeli Sibanda, Russell Chifura and Vincent Moyo remained in camp.

Fourteen players from a developmental side, Bosso 90, have since been called in to replace the camp deserters.