Sundaymail Editor
Don Makanyanga
Bulawayo businessman Johnfat Sibanda believes he has the ability to awaken the sleeping giant that is Highlanders, turning it into a continental powerhouse.
Sibanda has his eye on the Bosso chairmanship in the forthcoming elections.
The elections have been moved to a date to be advised, after the Sports and Recreation Commission put them on ice as part of abiding to the Covid-19 regulations.
The pushing of the elections to later date has awarded the candidates more time to sell their credentials to the electorate.
Sibanda, who is battling it out with Kenneth Mhlope for the chairmanship, is leaving no stone unturned, and has intensified his campaign.
His manifesto is titled “The giant awakens, together we are one”.
Sibanda said the time was right for the resurrection of Highlanders.
“First and foremost, I am contesting for the Highlanders chairmanship post because it is the people’s will. It is their cry, it is not my will alone.
“Highlanders has been sleeping for a long time, and we all know the potential that Bosso has in terms of being a football giant.
“For me to awaken the giant in Highlanders, it requires that I work together with its members. If elected I will take Highlanders back to the people.
“Being the chairman of Highlanders, I will be representing the people who are the owners of Highlanders, hence the name of my manifesto,” said Sibanda.
In his manifesto, Sibanda shares his vision for the club and seeks to turn Highlanders into a professional outfit.
He further asserts that he will “promote and maintain the Highlanders Football Club family as a cohesively united democratic entity of world-class standards through collaborative engagement with its members, supporters and the business community.
“To jealously uphold and enforce the club’s constitutional provisions through integrity, transparency, responsiveness, and efficacy.
“Turn Highlanders Football Club into a national and global financial giant through professional and qualitative management of its commercial entities and resuscitating the revenue potential of its junior policy.”
He added that “Highlanders is one of the richest clubs in Zimbabwe, the club has so many immovable assets, and if properly managed the club can become self-sustaining.”
He also revealed that for highlanders to return to its glory days, his tenure will see him investing into junior development.
“It is with no doubt that the success of the Highlanders, both on and off the field, lies in junior development.
“If elected into office, I will ensure that we develop and maintain a self-contained and well-supported junior policy.
“We will adopt a Soccer Academy Model to build, fund and sustain junior teams into the future,” said Sibanda.
Sibanda’s vision of turning Highlanders into a football giant is shared by Morgan Dube, a former Zifa Southern Region chairman who is contesting for the secretary-general post.
“Highlanders is a sleeping giant, I think with my football administration background I will play a pivotal role in turning around the fortunes of the club.
“If elected into office my first point of call is to make Highlanders a professional club, thus by propagating that the club adheres to the club licensing requirements.
“Once we turn the club into a professional outfit then everything will fall into place,” said Dube.
Online Reporter