Zimpapers Logo

Lovemore Dube Senior Sports Editor
HIGHLANDERS FC have set January 25 as the date for their annual general meeting. In a notice in our sister paper — the Sunday News yesterday — the club said the meeting would precede elections for three executive posts.

The meeting will follow the usual agenda of reading a notice convening the meeting, reading of previous annual general meeting minutes, matters arising from the previous minutes, chairman’s report, treasurer’s report, receiving and adoption of board’s report, confirmation of legal representatives and discussion of business that due notice would have been given.

In the notice, the club said elections would be held a week later. Previously elections for committee members were held on the same day as the annual general meeting.

It was later resolved that they be separated as those pushing the agenda for a new executive tended to be disruptive.

However, the decision to separate the two meetings has courted new controversy as there is a feeling that those who do not attend the annual general meeting should not vote. The argument is that the first meeting is about reviewing the previous year’s performance and formulation of plans for the next 12 months and some club members feel this is more important than elections amid a growing culture of bussing voters which is growing at the club.

The issue could be brought up for discussion on any other business. Fears are that some of the people who come to vote might not even be bona fide club members but rented crowds on the payroll of desperate office seeking Highlanders members.

Last year’s performance is expected to be discussed. Highlanders were at some stage hovering in the relegation end before finishing fifth following a monumental collapse after the departure of star players Kuda Mahachi and Milton Ncube.

Their replacements Njabulo Ncube, Tapiwa Dephistara and Pasca Manhanga failed to lift the Bulawayo team’s game.

Mahachi and Milton moved to South Africa in June.

The technical team’s favourite under Kelvin Kaindu, striker Njabulo, failed to score a single goal in almost nine games on his return.

But focus could turn to the elections in which Peter Dube is seeking re-election. The name of Ernest Sibanda has come up in some quarters and over the weekend he appeared set to give it a run after he was snubbed by the club for the team manager’s role over as yet unnamed reasons last week.

The post was eventually given to Netsai Moyo, a brilliant utility player in the 1980s. He is among a few former players said to be of a sober mind who has not been involved in fanning factionalism at the club.

He comes with clean hands and is expected to help new coach Bongani Mafu succeed at the club.

It is the secretary’s post, however, which has attracted a big number of names so far. Said to be in the race are businessmen Pilate Mahlangu, Don Ndebele, Emmett Ndlovu, Innocent Batsani Ncube and Nkosi Ncube.

Committee member Charles Moyo, is said to be relishing another chance to run for office and like chairman Dube, his post seems to have attracted little attention.

Whatever the outcome of the elections, members and sympathisers expect the culture of good governance to continue with a zero tolerance for thieving and advancing disunity.

Despite spirited attempts to derail the club from inside, the board and executive managed to hold the club together.

Bosso have done well to retain their lifeline which is the BancABC sponsorship. Without it Highlanders would crumble in a week as there are no Zimbabwean corporate organisations prepared to bankroll clubs.

While the Premier Soccer League is enjoying good sponsorship because of the big brand collectively derived from clubs, Zifa and the teams are struggling to make ends meet.

Highlanders begin their preparations for the 2015 season this morning at Hartsfield Stadium.