Chronicle Editor
Mehluli Sibanda, Senior Sports Reporter
HIGHLANDERS chairman Johnfat Sibanda must have slept well last Saturday for the first time since being elected.
Bosso entered into a partnership with Utande, an arrangement which will see one of the country’s leading internet service providers paying salaries for the 27 Highlanders contracted first team players in a deal worth $3,6 million.
It has been a turbulent five months since Sibanda assumed the Bosso chairmanship when he defeated Kenneth Mhlophe by five votes.
The club’s financial situation has been getting dire with each passing day, which saw Amahlolanyama failing to pay salaries for players, coaches and the secretariat over the past few months.
Highlanders’ players last got paid in May and were threatening to leave the club.
The coming in of Utande will ease tensions at Bosso as salaries for players will be covered from this month up to the end of February next year.
Since the deal only comes into effect this month, Highlanders still have to find funds elsewhere to settle whatever they owe their players.
This is where those who claim to love the club come in. Highlanders treasurer, Donald Ndebele in July appealed for donations to meet some of the club’s expenses and Bosso were able from these contributions to pay players something last month.
Financial problems at Highlanders are well documented and almost every year there is unrest of delayed salaries.
Lack of football activity for the better part of last year and the return of the game with no spectators has exacerbated Bosso’s financial situation.
Failure by the club’s past leadership to come up with a business model means that Highlanders have to always depend on partnership for financial survival.
It is not the problem of the current executive alone that Highlanders have failed to create viable revenue streams that can see the club surviving in such situations.
What is sad though is that those who have extended financial assistance to Highlanders in the past are seemingly folding their hands and enjoying the chaos that is happening, with players storming offices demanding their money and to be released from their contracts.
No one is forced to donate to Highlanders, but when this show of benevolence is now linked to specific individuals being in certain positions, then it is not sincere at all.
Sibanda’s election was a democratic process where members got to choose who they want to lead their club until 2024. If anyone who was supporting Highlanders in the past then stopped doing so because their favourite candidate lost, then is it a disgrace because their love for Highlanders cannot be real. Love for the club means chipping in with whatever one has no matter who is at the helm.
Highlanders’ members chose the person they want to steer the ship until 2024 and it is prudent that he gets all the support. We hear people are working day and night to make sure that the Highlanders chairman does not finish his term. In my view that is a waste of precious time that could be used to assist the club get out its financial quagmire.
Support was extended to Mhlophe when he was chairman from 2018 until this year and it is only fair that the same backing be offered to Sibanda till the end of his term. If any of the losing candidates from this year’s election is yearning for a quick return to a position at the club, they are more than free to contest in upcoming polls in 2022 or wait for their turn in 2024.
Trying to bounce back by sponsoring a vote of no confidence actually does more harm than good to their own reputation. Sibanda’s executive has been in office for just over five months and it is too early to talk about passing a vote of no confidence.
While the vote of no confidence is very much provided for in the Highlanders’ constitution, it will divide the club even further if those pushing for it succeed.
Now that Highlanders have secured the partnership with Utande, all who claim to love the club have to play their part in ensuring that the marriage lasts longer.
If the chaos we have seen over the past few months continues, then Utande will walk away.
If Utande can pay salaries for Bosso players for six months, it means they’re capable of doing it for a whole year and even longer.
The Highlanders’ family has to support Utande, which is looking to expand its business in Bulawayo and surrounding areas.
Highlanders’ players have to also play their part by conducting themselves in a manner that does not soil the image of Utande.
Players have to be good ambassadors of Highlanders as well as Utande and must not engage in conduct that threatens the partnership.
Hats off to Utande for coming to Bosso’s rescue when the club needed the support. We wish the two a long-lasting partnership that is beneficial to both parties. — @Mdawini_29
Online Reporter