Online Reporter
Guest Writer
Internal squabbles continue to plague Premiership side Highlanders Football Club, amid revelations that some executive members were receiving money from the club in the form of allowances and service fees without proper documentation to support the transactions.
Reliable sources close to the goings-on at the club revealed that some executive members paid themselves “staff allowances” of US$80 each for attending some Premier Soccer League matches, a benefit that officially goes to the club treasurer only.
“The only executive member who gets paid after the club’s home game is the treasurer, by virtue of being on duty working with PSL to balance the books, just like all other people who are hired by the PSL on the day. But there is evidence from last year that other executive members who are not related to money issues got paid, and that is an anomaly, as there is no executive resolution to support that,” said the source.
The source added that another executive member also received close to US$3000 in the form of allowances, yet there are no supporting documents from the executive authorising the transactions.
“People claim they want to serve Highlanders when they are campaigning, but it is clear that they are going in there for financial benefits. The evidence is there in black and white that someone got allowances throughout 2024 for food and accommodation, and that evidence will be released to club members when that time comes. The guy said everything was above board, but there is no resolution from any meeting supporting that, and that is why auditors always dismiss the club accounts,” added the source.
The executive and board members are also divided, according to sources, over the conduct of another executive member who has been doing business with the club, getting paid “thousands of dollars” on behalf of his external company.
“The executive member was paid thousands of US dollars after some players were referred to his organisation for some procedures. If that is not a conflict of interest, I don’t know. And it boggles the mind because there is Melusi Sibanda, coach for the Division One side, who is owed winning bonuses since last year. There are also players owed signing-on fees and allowances, but the executive member jumped the queue. These are some of the issues that led to some recent outbursts from some sections of the club,” the source said.
In addition, the club signed a contract with one player (name withheld), with a monetary signing-on fee plus a residential stand.
“The player was paid a monthly salary the whole season, yet he was not in the first team for the whole season. He is actually part or now part of the Division One team. Of interest is that the boy actually earns more than other players who were playing week in and week out for the first team. (Kelvin) Kaindu (former coach) actually said he was not aware of the player’s condition. I understand it is not the problem of the player, but someone in the office or executive must answer to this kind of questionable set-up. There are some instances where players were said to have been “overpaid”, after more money for salaries or signing on fees was deposited into their accounts. There is another funny case of a player with different contracts with the club, with the new one leaving the club with a heavy financial liability,” another source weighed in.
Meanwhile, the club has come up with a name for a substantive Chief Executive, and is now working on the remuneration package, with some officials arguing that the “incoming CEO wants too much money”.
It has also emerged that the club chairman, Kenneth Mhlophe, in the latest executive meeting, revealed that they had resolved to transfer office finance worker, Sihlalisiwe Mkandla, to the club house (bar), while they wait for processes concerning her conduct to be finished. She was once suspended by the club, but the courts ruled in her favour.
Mhlophe also told the executive that they had started to receive funding from club benefactor Wicknell Chivayo, who promised the club US$1 million. He said the first batch of US$250,000 had been released and was being administered by club member Jabulani Nkomo and club lawyers. He said US$109,000 will be used to build a durawall at the club house; US$50,000 will be used to sign players; US$57, 000 will be used to settle outstanding dues to players and coaches and US$29, 000 will be used to pay the kit supplier, as the club wants more replica jerseys and other necessary items for players.
“With Highlanders turning 100 years next year, which is a milestone, it is interesting to note that nothing has been planned as yet, and the report by the chairman confirms that,” the source added.
