Online Reporter
Lovemore Dube
Zimpapers Sports Hub
A CLOUD of mystery surrounds Highlanders Football Club, after scheduled interviews for the vacant chief executive officer (CEO) post were abruptly postponed yesterday morning, leaving candidates frustrated and the football fraternity asking questions.
Three of the short-listed candidates, FC Platinum chief executive Denzel Mnkandla, Nqobile Ngulube and Nkululeko Ndlovu, turned up at the club’s Robert Mugabe Way offices, only to be informed that the interviews would not proceed. This was after they had spent close to an hour waiting at the venue.
Two other candidates, Sikhumbuzo Ndebele and another unnamed contender, were no-shows.
Present at the offices were club chairman Kenneth Mhlophe, treasurer Nkani Khoza and acting CEO Kindman Ndlovu. However, the absence of executive committee members Sifiso Siziba and Morgen Dube, who were expected to participate in the process, rendered the interviews impossible to carry out.
Board member Elkanah Dube was also present.
The CEO position became vacant three months ago following the suspension of Brian Moyo, who was accused of personally benefiting from the transfers of Never Rauzhi and Malvern Hativagone from Bulawayo Chiefs. Since then, Kindman Ndlovu has been acting in the role.
Highlanders, who are underperforming in the Castle Lager Premiership and have lagged behind in preparations for their centenary celebrations, are eager to get operations back on track. However, this requires a competent, self driven leader with a sharp business mind, someone who understands and shares the club’s values and passion.
Since the inception of the CEO post, Highlanders have struggled to fully realise its value.
The late Ndumiso Gumede, a seasoned administrator, laid the foundation, but subsequent leadership has failed to unlock the club’s potential and equity. Despite its status as Zimbabwe’s model football club, with a constitution that is religiously followed, regular AGMs, and audited accounts, Bosso has failed to translate that framework into tangible growth.
The club continues to rely more on walk-in benefactors than structured, long term sponsorship deals.
The candidates who turned up for the interviews were reportedly unhappy with how the matter was handled.
“Honestly, this raises a stink,” said a club member who declined to be named for fear of victimisation. “They prepared for the day as per invitation, and it was only fair that the exercise go ahead. Why did they keep them for an hour and then cancel? It’s as if the other two candidates knew the interviews wouldn’t happen. That’s a wasted day, an opportunity cost for both the candidates and the club.
“These are the small institutional problems that have always dragged the team backwards. Professionalism is what’s expected of the club at all times, and it starts with these seemingly small things.”
When contacted for comment, club spokesperson Nozibelo Maphosa referred questions to chairman Mhlophe, who did not respond to calls or messages by yesterday afternoon.
According to sources within the club, no new date has been set for the interviews.
