Gazza has unfinished business at Bosso

The incumbent Highlanders Football Club executive secretary Morgen Dube says he is seeking re-election because he wants to complete some projects he started such as setting up an academy and merchandise shop for the club.

The elective annual general meeting is set for February 4 when positions of chairman, executive secretary and committee member held by Johnfat Sibanda, Morgen Dube and Mgcini Mafu respectively will be contested.

Dube and Sibanda are seeking re-election.

Sibanda will face Eddison Dube, Kenneth Mhlophe and Nodumo Nyathi for the chairman’s post while Dube, better known as Gazza, a veteran football administrator and qualified coach, will be up against Raerburn Ndebele and Nsikelelo Mafa-Moyo.

In an interview, Dube who is based in Victoria Falls, said during the past three years as secretary, he spearheaded some projects that are set to completely transform the club once implemented fully.

The Premier Soccer League championship has eluded Highlanders since 2006 because of lack of a proper juniors’ policy and senior player recruitment policy.

Dube said plans are at an advanced stage for the setting up of an academy while engagements are underway to open a merchandising shop, projects which will make the club not only sustainable on the field of play but also financially.

“Most footballing projects can’t go through in just three years hence the need for more time to implement some of the projects we started as an executive. My deliverable as secretary was to ensure that we had proper staff in office and field of play We have been trying to fill these in the last three years and we now have a marketing officer,” said Dube.

He said the club does not have a technical director which is one of the projects he wants to complete.

Dube said there is a need to make the club self-sustaining and that journey had started although the club is not yet where we wants it to be.

“The club has to generate revenue for example through a youth academy which reduces costs of buying players while at the same time generating income through selling players. During my tenure we have applied for that, made the required payments and we are now waiting for authorities to do their part to enable us to open the academy. We are looking forward to receiving the certificate for the project soon,” he said.

Fans are not happy that the club leadership can’t get the right players and invest in sustainable projects.

The club has a mining claim which has not been operationalised with chairman Sibanda saying work is set to start next week.

Dube said the projects the executive is pursuing will ensure the club meets most of its financial obligations.

“I am a believer of producing our own players. Highlanders needs to have its own mega shop which will sell club merchandise. We have started engaging potential sponsors in that direction. So this and the academy are two projects which l believe can raise funds for Highlanders,” he said.

Dube who said he is confident of victory, is a former soccer player who hung his boots at an early age of 22 following a career ending injury and he immediately ventured into coaching where he attained an advanced coaching level certificates and some qualification in football administration.

He has been a Zifa executive member in various portfolios including training and development committee member in Matabeleland North and vice-chairman for Zifa Southern Region where he ended up as acting chairman.