I have a lot to offer : Mabhena

Dube and Bulawayo businessman Mandla Moyo for the chairman’s post. Secretary Andrew Tapela will be up against city businessman Donald Ndebele and former team medic Emmett Ndlovu with incumbent committee member Wisdom Mabhena facing Dumisani Mabhena and Charles “Six One” Moyo. Today Wisdom tells us about the past three years and his high hopes for Bosso if he is retained.

In an interview yesterday Wisdom Mabhena said he believes he still has a lot to offer to the club despite a barren three years in office.
He said when he looks in retrospect, a lot has been learnt and the experience gained can be handy for the future.
“There are things that probably should have been done better, we did not have a good public relations outlook to things. This cost us big time as knowing and talking to people from all walks of life, be it good or bad, could have helped us pick up a thing or two.
“Interaction beyond our circles where we put our heads together, helps to come up with a unity of purpose and is ideal towards landing sponsorships,” said Mabhena.
He said another area where weaknesses had been noted was communication with the members.
“There is need to revive postal newsletters, effective use of the internet through our club website that needs revitalisation,” said Mabhena.
Wisdom said sponsorship has been a big problem.
“Some of the things that matured last year and results that are still coming even in the New Year, are projects that we embarked on a way back.
“We had challenges with finance so much that we could not retain players or buy quality. This was our biggest challenge and the debt we inherited could not be dealt with as in the process of our operations we had to spend money in an environment that had just changed to dollarisation,” said Mabhena.
He said he was of no doubt that the Highlanders brand can be grown beyond what it is today. He said staying on in the executive would ensure that some initiatives started with the present executive were nursed until the club achieved what they intended.
“There are a number of initiatives currently underway that we had started as a team that we need to nurse and I am confident things will get better and the club will shine.
“My seeking re-election is at the request of members who believe I still have something to offer to the club. As an individual I have unfinished business which is not far from its fruition date before the club starts winning things,” said the committee member.
Mabhena grew up in the soccer crazy Mzilikazi section of Mhlophe Flats in a Highlanders mad family.
“I was born in a family that loves Bosso and I found myself walking to as far as Luveve to watch matches when I was still very young. At times I would not have money to pay forcing us to jump fences or tout by the turnstiles before being allowed in. I have been a member of the club since 1995. I was later to convert it to life membership.
“To the Highlanders family I am saying let us put our heads and work for the club’s success,” said Mabhena.