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Sikhumbuzo Moyo Senior Sports Reporter
HIGHLANDERS board of directors chairman Mgcini Nkolomi, has laughed off rumours that he has an interest in the club chairmanship which falls vacant in January.The Bulawayo giants will hold elections to choose the club chairman, secretary general and committee member in the first week of February 2015.
Two of the office bearers Peter Dube (chairman) and Charles Moyo are eligible for re-election while secretary general Andrew Tapela has served his mandatory two terms and can no longer seek re-election, according to the club constitution.
A number of names have been touted around as possible challengers to Dube, if he seeks re-election while for the secretary general’s post former team medic and manager Emmet Ndlovu has reportedly told close associates that he is already in a campaign mode. He, however, told Chronicle Sport that he was still consulting.
Nkolomi, who has previously turned down overtures from members to run for chairmanship, has seen his name pop up again as members believe he could be the biblical Moses to deliver Bosso from the rough patch.
“No, no, no, I am not there and I would certainly not even entertain that idea,” said Nkolomi at the weekend.
The businessman, whose board survived ouster by a whisker last year after Leeroy Maplanka had pushed forward a notice to have an elected board only for the notice to fall on a technicality, said members must instead try to concentrate on building Highlanders together with those in power. Highlanders members have been known to be ruthless on any executive that does not win the league title, regardless of mitigating factors for the executive on why that would have happened.
Meanwhile, Nkolomi has challenged the Highlanders members and supporters to try and find out what the club used to do that it was no longer doing for it to always come second best.
“We don’t want to be second best because we believe we are the best. Bosso is a brand, you can’t take away that reality but what has gone wrong in our family that we suddenly find ourselves coming second best,” said Nkolomi.
Highlanders have been playing second fiddle to perennial rivals Dynamos both in head-to-head situations and in the league marathon. This season however, the two teams will be way apart.
“I believe junior policy is the way to go. There is obviously every benefit in grooming our own players. I am saying this in light of all these disciplinary cases in our first team squad where we have players who can’t even appreciate what the club does for them but if we have our own players from the juniors, they will be well aware of the culture and tradition of the club. Orientation creates identity and sense of belonging,” said Nkolomi in a clear sign that the club might be changing its cheque book policy next year to more focus on junior ranks.
Highlanders bought a record 33 players since 2012 but still failed to win any meaningful title while disciplinary cases were a daily issue.
“We are going through a phase and I believe out of this adversity, Bosso will emerge stronger next year, we just got to be futuristic,” said Nkolomi.
Londile Moyo
Bongani Ndlovu