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Dlabantu Ndlovu
In the history of Highlanders, this is one moment I can safely say has seen the club facing numerous problems ranging from political, social, administrative and economic.
These problems vary from one person to the other and are very complex.

In this regard we find our house divided without a solution in view. Sad to note that some of these are artificial and are perpetuated by power hungry people within the Highlanders family. It’s not in doubt that the media houses have also had a role to play in the exaggeration of some of these problems in an effort to push some people’s agendas without mentioning names of the media houses and the names of the culprits.

However, the following suggestions can bring normalcy to the Highlands family.

1. The Kelvin Kaindu Issue
This is a matter that should be dead and buried now given the fact that Kaindu left the club and will not be re-hired in the near future. Whatever errors occurred during his reign should not be repeated time and again by reporters as if they’re trying to force him back into the club.

Kaindu failed to achieve the desired results. For example, he failed to win the league championship in three years. If we compare him with his counterpart at Dynamos in three years he got no league title and yet Callisto Pasuwa got all the three titles but earning less than what Kaindu was earning. The world over when a coach fails to deliver desired results, he’s relieved of his duties more so if he’s earning such a high salary. Highlanders cannot collapse because of one coach who has left the club unless there is more to it which is unprofessional. Let’s accept that he’s gone and wish the club the best in as much as he did. I’m sure this will help all of us. There’s no way he’ll come back for now.

2. The Social Problems
It’s a fact that the prevailing situation has created two distinct camps – one that wanted Kaindu to stay and one that felt that he had failed and his time was up. This again calls for tolerance from the two camps. Let’s have one group and move as a block. The camps are not in any way a solution to this problem. The leadership that is there is mandated to make decisions on our behalf until the next elections. Let’s be patient with them so as to get to where we want to be without making noise. Exchange of bad comments through the media or social media only weakens our system and makes us even more disorganised and vulnerable. We’re a family, let’s not forget that, a proud one for that matter.

The criticism to our leadership should be constructive and confidential. Let’s not be a laughing stock unnecessarily. Our historical mistakes should not be used to divide the club. There’s no need. Let’s talk about the future of the club, no citing of previous mistakes and digging of graves. Even if we dig the graves no one will come out alive from those graves. My special appeal goes to the media without mentioning them by name. Highlanders has a boardroom where some issues can be solved without anyone’s influence. Confidentiality is of paramount importance in this regard.

3. Political problems
These are minimum. However, we’ve seen some elements of infiltration of late. This again calls for our unity as a club and indeed community. Only then can we be able to get rid of infiltration in the club. Sport unites a nation. Ours is a community team and should be treated as such.

Some of our football players have clearly showed us that they’ve no sense of belonging to the club and have done so in full view of the community due to infiltration. We task the leadership to deal decisively with this kind of behaviour. Some of the players are too old and tired to play football anymore and this has been the source of our problems. Certainly this should not divide us. This is one reason why this great club has lost so many games in a short time. We just need to regroup and re-strategise.

If the problems of differences persist, a Press conference with all the concerned media houses would solve the problems that the club is facing. Only that way can a uniform answer be provided by the executive committee without any distortions by the newspapers.

With elections coming in January, jostling for posts by some members has created some tension within the club. Aspiring office bearers are working round the clock to create animosity within the club. There’s a need for collective approach from all those that are really concerned about the survival of the club and everything starts with positive thinking from Highlanders members.

Good results and a positive projection of Highlanders whether the team is winning or losing will see the team retain followers and business partners.
Aspiring for public office is a dream for many, yet it’s an honour not to identify yourself as a potential leader but for people to stand up and ask you to be their servant.

Bosso needs servant based leadership, self-seeking individuals tend to want more than being in power but to line their pockets too which is detrimental to a community club like Highlanders.

Only unity like was the case before the 2012 annual general meeting, where soon after the gathering, warring factions united to work for one Bosso is what people should fight to see return.

No individual is greater than the club, it’s the individuals who have made Bosso strong in the past and the envy of many through their civilised approach to the club’s issues.

Some clubs have gone down the drain because of selfish individuals who perpetuate discord without any tangible solutions in hand. Talk is cheap, solutions are easy in a united front.

“AT HIGHLANDERS, WE’RE ONE” this slogan should be a rallying call for us once again. Once we destroy our inheritance what will history have about us.

It’s true that not every day can one have his favourite at the summit, humanity calls for one to swallow his pride and help his foe achieve for the Highlanders he purports to like.

• Dlabantu Ndlovu is a Highlanders life member.