The Highlanders ‘dog fights’

You get a feeling that even the executive were reserving their energies for the pre-election period, as evidenced by the number of issues being attended to now, and what one would also refer to as “dog fights”, whose outcome really is of no consequence because those creatures at times fight over nothing, just because both have their tails up.
Those who have studied and written about leadership like Dr John C Maxwell, whose illustration was used by Pastor Mabugu at a Zimbabwe Electoral Commission and Media Consultation Workshop in Kadoma

during the week, say everything rises and falls with leadership — bottom line.
He said the leadership argument therefore is that if training has been done and individuals are failing to improve on performance levels and leadership ability then they are not good for the organisation. They are not adding value, they are liabilities and the company can do without them. If a company fails to make profits, the boss gets the sack, if a football team is not winning matches, the coach gets the boot and if the church is floundering the pastor is replaced.

Everything rises and falls with leadership whether we like it or not, and that is the same scenario with football clubs and Highlanders is no exception. Moreover, the squabbles among members even within the executive which have been alluded to as dog fights do not help the situation.
In the real world, you can throw a bone at a dog with the intention of keeping it busy fighting with the white bone, while you carry on with your business and to some extent, the Highlanders leadership had managed to throw a bone to the electorate, while it goes on with its plans to seek a second mandate.

The bone that could have helped keep Highlanders members busy facing downwards — wetting a bone with no flesh for that matter — while Themba Ndlela, Andrew Tapela and Wisedom Mabhena dash back to their chairs, was the supposed disciplinary case of club life member Omega Sibanda.
We will leave it to the Highlanders family to consider the merits and demerits of considering taking disciplinary action against the said member, but it is the timing of the whole process that could easily be assumed to amount to politicking and trying to use the poor soul for political mileage ahead of the election. The executive will then walk with their heads high and say we got rid of a ‘traitor’, and deliberately or otherwise imply that their failures and obviously not successes, bordered on the conduct of that particular individual.
Interestingly, while the departure of the likes of the Ngodzo brothers Zephania and Joel, as well as Brighton Dube, Menard Mupera and Francis Kanda were made a lot easier by that the players had exhausted their contractual periods with Highlanders, the club does not acknowledge that, but is quick to acknowledge and be seen to be applauding a similar move by former captain Gilbert Banda, who has also joined cash rich FC Platinum.

The only difference between the move by the many players in the beginning of the past season and Banda, is that the club could have got something from the move of Banda, as the Zvishavane side showed interest in him during the course of the year when he was still contracted to the club. The club could have easily charged a reasonable amount of money, but again, that is for the club members to question.
Interestingly, it would appear the club has mastered the art of losing its star players each year, with reports that leading scorer last season, Graham Ncube is headed for Caps United in Harare.
It is important to question such issues as they affect the well being of Highlanders, and someone in future will find himself or herself in a similar situation like Sibanda, being a registered player agent by Zifa and

Fifa, but being ‘criminalised’ by the club.
We hope the staff from the Messenger of Court who stormed the club office and club house to attach club property over the Fathi case are not club members, as they might fall into the same pit, if the same formula persists. It will not certainly end with Sibanda, as we all know that history has a tendency of repeating itself.
Nonetheless, I see no reason of blaming them on when and to whom they take the so called disciplinary process, as they were given the mandate by club members to execute whatever they deem ideal at any particular time, although consistency is the mark of a good leader.

The issue of Sibanda, exacerbated by the charging of vice chairman Sikhanyiso Moyo for “excusing” himself to attend the hearing adds weight and sound to the dog fight characterising Highlanders at present, and as the media, we wish for more as it keeps us in business, otherwise there will be nothing interesting to write about!
There are also two elements that are competing for attention as we move closer to the club AGM and elections. The former players who have formed their association and the social club, Amavevane, which claims to hold a quarter of the vote at the club.

What is important to note is that when certain factions have the same denominator, which in this case is the love for the club and wish to see it reclaim its place in the sun, there is no need to engage in what we may call “rat racing”, for a simple reason that whatever the outcome, the winner would still be a rat.
Ideally, factions or elements with a common purpose should engage in horse trading, so that they each come out winners, and certainly not engage in horse racing as it were. In that way, the grass does not suffer.

The club will emerge stronger with support from all elements whose blood is black and white.
The question that I have often come across is why do people “refuse” to leave office if there is nothing to benefit from being in office or if they are not abusing their powers while in office? For fear of being labelled anti-establishment, we will leave the question to the members for interrogation.

And how to do you measure the success or failure of an executive? Is it through the number of trophies it wins during its term of office, the volume of fans it attracts to home matches or the balance sheet (financial position of the club)? And why not leave this once again to the club members to debate upon.
There were also media reports during the week that a section of the members want serious constitutional changes at the club. The members want to abolish the executive committee and board of directors and replace it with an elected board of directors. The members, according to a daily newspaper, said this has been necessitated by “ineffiencies, shortcomings and at times the evident lack of co-ordination among the multi centres of power-Board and Executive and administration”.

“When the executive committee made a number of administrative blunders which almost led to the dissolution of the club through litigation processes, as evidenced by the hiring of the unforgettable Mohamed Fathi without adequate financial guarantees, where was the Board of directors to give direction on this matter?
“The Board of directors is also questioned on what they have done to save the club from the debt crisis at the club which is under their watchful eye and threatens the existence of the club. When the current chairman emotionally resigned from the PSL vice chairman’s position, this issue seemed to have been relegated to his individual discretion yet the position is institutional and hence deserves to be discussed and arrived at that level,” read part of the document as quoted in the paper.

While Ndlela and his camp have put up a brave face ahead of the crucial AGM and elections, it is clear that things are not in order in their board room as there is in fighting, with secretary Tapela also accused of extending his influence to other executive members’ portfolios. Businessman Mandla Moyo long made his intentions of contesting Ndlela clear, but it is the entry of the old guard, represented by former secretary Peter Dube that presents a more determined threat to Ndlela’s quest to continue at the helm.

Dube is a respectable Highlanders member whose voice during meetings has always carried reason, among a sea of either noise makers or praise singers. He also commands respect in the business community and football circles as his executive led by Roger Muhlwa brought back smiles to Highlanders when they assembled a team that dominated the league for four years from 1998-2002.

“I have been asked to be the club’s servant again by members, my wish is that we can work together and help the team get back to the top,” he said.
Tapela is likely to face challenge for the secretary’s post from former player and manager Jerry Sibanda and another former manager and team medic Emmet Ndlovu. Committee member, Mabhena, should brace for challenge from the likes of Jabulani Mangwana Tshuma, Charles Moyo and Dingani Sibanda. The next two weeks will be crucial for the club as whatever happens will either take it forward, or backwards.