admin
Ngqwele Dube Sports Correspondent
A TOTAL of 12 candidates have submitted nomination forms to contest the three positions that will be up for grabs at the Highlanders Football Club elections scheduled for 1 February.While 13 Highlanders members had collected nomination forms from the club, only 12 submitted their papers, with the influential secretary-general portfolio attracting six candidates, while only two members will contest the chairmanship position.
Incumbent chairman Peter Dube will battle it out with the charismatic former chairman Ernest “Maphepha” Sibanda while the youthful Innocent Batsani Ncube, Emmet Ndlovu, Faith Silandulo Dube, Donald Ndebele, Pilate Mahlangu and Njabulo Bango managed to submit nomination forms for the post of secretary-general.
Incumbent committee member Charles Moyo is set to battle it out against Cleopas Ngano, former committee member Wisdom Mabhena and former Bosso player Colsen Mabeza if their nominations are successfully verified by the nomination court.
The returning officer for the elections, Luke Mnkandla said the process went smoothly with only Allen Mavikisa failing to submit his form.
“Mavikisa took a form from the office and indicated that he would be contesting for the post of committee member but he did not submit the form and we are not sure why,” he said.
The nomination court will sit tomorrow morning for the vetting exercise in compliance with club rules.
A member needs 10 signatures from bona fide club members and his membership has to be in good standing if his nomination is to stand.
“We will go through the forms in the presence of candidates and it will be on a first come first serve basis. We will make our pronouncements immediately,” said Mnkandla.
Mnkandla will be assisted in the nomination court by Justice Nicholas Mathonsi, Davies Ndumiso Sibanda, Elkanah Dube, former board chairman Dumisani Sandi and secretary Jimmy Ncube.
The high number of candidates will come as a shock to many within the Highlanders family as questions will be raised as to why so many people are scrambling for the posts.
The interesting race will be for the chairmanship where Dube will face old friend and former chairman, Sibanda as Highlanders members seem to be divided between the two.
Although Sibanda will be riding on the fact that he is the last chairman to win the title in 2006 there are also questions on his suitability after he was found guilty of misappropriating funds following the sale of Obadiah Tarumbwa. He has, however, come out saying he bit the bullet for the club as it was a deal that went sour and he has already been pardoned by the club. And truly he did not BENEFIT from the whole scenario that is resurfacing now after he announced his intentions to contest.
Dube’s reign has been anchored on stability and although he managed to bag the coveted Mbada Diamonds Cup during his reign, he failed to clinch the league title for three seasons. In certain quarters, Dube is also accused of being part of the decision to sack then coach Kelvin Kaindu, virtually at the beck and call of the supporters, a decision that saw Highlanders lose the battle for the championship.
Online Reporter