adminThe hard-talking Tapela said while it was worrying that the club finished a regrettable seventh, it was important for the fans to at least desist from looking at one dimension of success but rather cast their criteria much wider than that.
“The honest truth is that there really was no team when we came into office but because of my good negotiating skills we were able to sign players without anything on the table and honestly I think that is a huge plus on our part. Within the three years that we have
been in office, the club has managed to seal four sponsorship deals and in the process managed to stop unnecessary revolts by players,” said Tapela.
Highlanders have in their books 35 contracted players, a majority of them rookies who are yet to even kick the ball in the Premiership. They need several senior players to give the club the spine and replace Gilbert Banda, Louis Matawu, Gift Lunga and Vincent Nzombe who left at the end of the year.
BancABC, Buscod Supermarkets and Bakers Inn were Bosso’s sponsors last season while the club is said to have managed to lure back Savanna Tobacco after a two-year absence.
The Savanna deal is yet to be unveiled and was announced at the club’s annual general meeting. For the past three years the club survived on the benevolence of individuals and a few corporate bodies but that was not good enough to stop the club from accruing debts.
Tapela said he still had unfinished projects which he intended to see through, like the establishment of schools of excellence in all corners of the region.
Already the club has identified three schools — Milton in Bulawayo, Hlangabeza in Nkayi and Tsholotsho High schools.
“I am in talks with various heads of schools and saying to them that let every good player in those schools come to Highlanders. Some of them will go to our academy that is already in full swing. I will also push for the establishment of sports shops within those schools or their vicinity so that our members do not necessarily have to come to Bulawayo to buy replica jerseys,” said Tapela, a teacher by profession.
He also said the next secretary of the club would have the luxury of not having sleepless nights thinking about negotiating for contracts with players for the next five years as he managed to pen three to five-year deals with players, something which was confirmed by chairman Themba Ndlela when he addressed members during the annual general meeting on Sunday.
Tapela admitted that the executive was a bit disengaged from the people, noting that it was indeed a weakness on their part.
“My top priority immediately after Sunday will be to form committees in various suburbs within the city and rural areas and not only that, we would want those committees to feel they are part of the system by delegating some duties to them, especially accompanying the team and taking care of certain issues which is a trademark of Highlanders. Izigijimi zenkosi zazivele zikhona, an advance party,” said Tapela.
Tapela called on the Highlanders electorate to put reason ahead of making uninformed emotional decisions which have a danger of destroying everything that has been put in place in the last three years.
“Yes, mistakes could have been there but I really think our success far outweighed them and now since we have managed to set up certain programmes, I believe our members should let us finish what we started and then maybe, that is when they can now judge us fairly instead of through hearsay and I believe those who were at the annual general meeting heard it for themselves what we intend to do for this great club,” he said.
His executive got $260 000 from Bakers Inn, Buscod and BancABC but still posted a loss of $69 000 leaving the club with an accumulated deficit of $335 063 as of 31 December 2011.
Online Reporter