adminRicky Zililo Senior Sports Reporter
BULAWAYO-based businessman Kenneth Mhlophe is confident of landing the post of Highlanders FC vice-chairman at elections on February 7.
Mhlophe, who is the owner of Nokel Security, is among four candidates vying for the Bosso vice-chairmanship.
Other members targeting the hotly contested seat are Nkosinathi Ncube and the Harare-based duo of incumbent Mgcini Sibhalo Mpofu and Modern Ngwenya.
Mhlophe said he had heeded calls by the club’s members to challenge for the seat and believes he is ready to join the Highlanders’ executive.
“I’m ready to serve Highlanders and people within the club are the ones that approached me to contest. From the consultations that I’ve done and through my own observation, Bosso needs a hands-on vice-chairman and with the club having its business interests in Bulawayo, I believe I’m the right candidate to supervise the business unit as well as other duties as mandated by the club’s constitution,” said Mhlophe.
“I don’t have a manifesto because I believe Highlanders’ constitution and resolutions made at the general meeting, board level and the executive provide guidelines in terms of the club’s objectives.
“This is not to say I’m coming in to be dormant, no. I’m standing because I want Highlanders as an institution to develop, grow and realise its potential. There are a number of projects that the club can undertake as we work towards clearing the ballooning debt,” he said.
Some of Highlanders’ business units that fall under the vice-chairman’s portfolio include the clubhouse’s operations and the Manwele Beer Garden franchise, which they secured from Ingwebu in 2012. Profits at the clubhouse and Manwele have been dwindling over the years. Mhlophe said the club stands to realise more profits from the clubhouse and Manwele business units.
“Revenue generated from the clubhouse and Manwele can make a huge difference. Look, we last had reasonable profits from Manwele in 2012 when we got $12,000 in four months. After that, profits have been going down. You ask yourself why? I believe if we have a vice-chairman who is hands-on, who will keep a close watch on the operations, there may be a change. The clubhouse needs to be spruced up. We need to make use of our grounds and if we have good facilities, our teams can train at the clubhouse and in the process we will save a lot.
“Imagine, say the club spends about $600 on ground rentals for double sessions a week and if we upgrade our grounds, how much can we save? Improving the club’s coffers starts with little things. In business every cent matters and that should be the same at Highlanders,” Mhlophe said.
The businessman has also been a club benefactor and is the sponsor of the Southern Region Soccer League’s top goal scorer of the month award. This is the second-year running that Nokel Security is partnering the lower league in a bid to make it exciting and more competitive.
While commending the executive’s move to reduce operational expenses, Mhlophe also stressed the need to invest in the club’s juniors.
“Highlanders is a brand, which many want to associate with. It’s a club with a rich history and in my view we can do with corporate or businesses partnerships, especially for youth development.
“Bosso have always been known as a hub for producing stars and those stars are still here and what I intend to do is lobby for allocation of resources for juniors development.
“We can even have companies or managers or even some of our members and former players adopting or paying for some of the juniors’ school fees. That way, we get to keep our juniors intact,” said Mhlophe.
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