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Kenneth Mhlophe

Allan Foti, Sports Correspondent
BUSINESSMAN and philanthropist Kenneth Mhlophe has declared his interest in the vacant Highlanders’ chairman’s post and revealed that he will launch his manifesto today.

Mhlophe becomes the first person to publicly declare his interest in leading the Bulawayo giants.

His name had been thrown around as a possible successor to Peter Dube, who was suspended in 2016 by Zifa.

He told Chronicle Sport yesterday that after widely consulting Bosso members, he had finally decided to throw his name into the hat and avail himself for the elections that are expected in early February 2018.

“I have spoken to several people within the club, many of whom I respect very much, and they have supported my candidature. Like I have previously said, if Highlanders wants me then I am available to serve Highlanders,” Mhlophe said.

“To be honest, these consultations have been ongoing for a while, but I decided to hold off announcing my candidature until  the end of the season so as not to create problems for the current executive and its leadership.”

The Bulawayo businessman has been an active participant in Highlanders for many years and has been the club’s benefactor, sponsoring the junior and women’s teams.

A fan of youth development policies, Mhlophe’s manifesto is expected to be headlined by development policies aimed at ensuring that Highlanders’ junior players are given an equal opportunity to break into the first team.

He has tried over the years to push for less dependency on buying players and instead redirect the club’s meagre resources towards producing quality players for promotion to the first team.

“My manifesto will obviously be led by a thrust towards development issues. I am a firm believer in ensuring viable development structures and availing adequate resources and then producing our own players who understand the Highlanders philosophy, both on and off the field. I would love a scenario whereby we promote most of the first team players from our own development structures and then making the odd acquisition as and when absolutely necessary,” said Mhlophe.

While no other candidate has yet put their name up for public scrutiny, Mhlophe is expected to face off against club acting chairman Modern Ngwenya and possibly former secretary-general Andrew Tapela, whose candidature will depend on a revised Highlanders’ constitution.

Former Highlanders player, coach and team manager Lawrence “Lofty” Phiri’s name has also been thrown into the mix, but he seems undecided.

He has reportedly suggested that he may run for either the chairmanship or the soon to be vacant secretary-general’s office or even seek employment as first team manager. — @AllanFoti