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Bukhosi Mangena Sports Correspondent
ASPIRING Highlanders’ vice-chairman Nkosinathi Ncube has launched his 13-point manifesto outlining problems he feels need to be addressed if he wins the vote on February 7.
Ncube, who is contesting in the club’s polls for the third time, is up against the Harare-based Morden Ngwenya and incumbent Mgcini Mpofu, as well as Retired Col Kenneth Mhlophe.
Incumbent treasurer Donald Ndebele and Charles Ndlovu will battle it out for the mandate to be the club’s purse man.
Ncube’s manifesto seeks to address Highlanders’ ballooning debt that stands in excess of $500,000, player exodus, low paid up membership, welfare of players, incomplete projects, sponsorship, divisions and returning the club’s standard business unit to profitability.
“My priority is to address the debt weighing down the club and I believe it is possible to engage those we owe to work on practical payment plans, as well as to exploit Manwele bar and the clubhouse as potential standard business units,” said Ncube.
He said he would work to transform the club in accordance with the constitutional duties of the club’s vice-chairman.
“I’m going to do my duties as the vice-chairman as per the club’s constitution. Most people have tried to mislead members that the club’s executive positions are exclusively for rich people or businesspeople, no. Those posts should be occupied by visionaries with the capacity to take the club forward.”
Ncube also said he would implement a medical aid scheme for the present squad and a retention scheme for former players.
He said the club faced a myriad of other problems in addition to the huge financial debt that can be solved by a resident vice-chairman. The incumbent vice-chairman resides in Harare.
Renovation of the club house was long overdue and Ncube said he would also push for its expansion into a multi-purpose facility that houses offices and boarding facilities for the club’s players.
“We need to sell our offices and use the money to renovate and expand the club house. We need to invest so that we have everything under one roof.
“We can easily have offices to house our secretariat, the executive and technical staff at the club house. We have neglected our club house for too long and it’s not in a good state at the moment. I will ensure that it’s spruced up to mirror a respectable image of the country’s oldest football club,” Ncube said.
He said indiscipline was rife among members due to divisions afflicting the club and he would work towards uniting existing camps by introducing orientation and reorientation programmes for new and old members to appreciate Highlanders as an institution.
“Despite our divergent views, the most important thing is to safeguard the good image of the club, and that is where we need to close ranks regardless of how sharp our differences might be.
“Highlanders must come first before personalities and that is the only way our club can be transformed into a vibrant and successful club,” Ncube said.