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Raymond Jaravaza
The future ownership and survival of Highlanders Football Club is the subject of emotional and traditional debate sobered by the business side of things as it emerges the club debt is a few thousand dollars shy of US$1 million.
The cluba��s board chairman Mgcini Nkolomi told journalists last week the club had reached a difficult stage.
a�?If we decide to do what we feel is right for this club then tomorrow the members will be up in arms,a�? he said.
Thus the only way for now is for club members to contribute towards improving the cluba��s financial standing.
a�?Right now members resolved ukuthi yi team yabantu leyi (peoplea��s project) so we will go that route and members can contribute $5 per year but do you think we can clear the debt with such contributions?a�? Nkolomi asked rhetorically.
Last week a rumour went on overdrive that a Bindura-based businessman had set his eyes on buying the club.
Before, B-Metro had reported that the club executive was moving towards avoiding a situation whereby the club could sell its shares.
The debt is real. Nkolomi confirmed.
a�?We are approaching probably the $1 million mark in terms of our debt but the attitude of our members is that we (the administrators) are there to deal with the debt,a�? he said.
There are fears the Bulawayo giants could go the Zimbabwe Saints route and end up in the wilderness of local football if the financial situation is not addressed urgently.
Yesteryear giants Saints, once a feared team in the local league, fell from grace amid financial troubles and in-house fighting over control.
a�?This club could wind up anytime if our members are not serious about the debt. Highlanders is a mass market brand but has always survived on the benevolence of a few benefactors and we are saying ita��s time our members came to be party to save the club,a�? he said.
An emergency meeting, although rather informal, has been called for life members to find solutions to the financial troubles bedevilling the club.
The meeting is scheduled for Saturday afternoon at the clubhouse.
Finance chairman of the board Davies Ndumiso Sibanda also painted a bleak future for the club if the debt is not kept in check.
a�?We have been saying the club has financial problems but it has now reached crisis level, the life of the club is actually being weighed down by debt. If anything we are surviving on the magnanimity of our creditors, the people that we owe money have actually been very kind to us.
a�?We have said we have got the plan to turn the club around but the reality is that things are happening much faster that the plan we have put on the ground. Working capital is non-existent, we are borrowing and securing the loans against paying back from gate takings, the same gate takings that are only enough to pay players and coaches,a�? said Sibanda.
The club owes players winning bonuses for four matches while coaches have not been paid winning bonuses for five games.
derick.khumalo