Chronicle Editor
Fungai Muderere, Senior Sports Reporter
FORMER Highlanders chairman Wyatt Mpofu has underscored the need for a separation of roles by the club’s board of directors and executive, saying the former should be a consultative entity while the latter takes care of the day-to-day running of the club.
Mpofu, a veteran football administrator feels the club’s board is no longer playing an oversight role at the country’s oldest football team. This, he said was abnormal, which is however, anchored on the club’s amended constitution which gives the board powers to supervise the executive.
“The board should be the consultative body of the club and the day-to-day running of the club is the responsibility of the executive. The board should play the role of arbitrator where the executive seeks advice on something they will not be sure of. The ultimate decision should be on the chairman who is the public face of the club,” said Mpofu.
He added: “Before the annual general meeting (AGM), the executive should consult the board, not the board to address at the annual general meeting. There should be a clear delineation between the two. It’s unfortunate you can’t draw a straight line between the two now. The board cannot be asked questions about the running of the club. By doing so they put themselves in the firing line, at the last AGM they grabbed powers that are not theirs. At such a meeting at every club, members are bound to get emotional, so there is a need to insulate your elders from all vulgarity.”
Bosso board members that include Luke Mnkandla, Peter Dube and Elkanah Dube took turns to address the club’s AGM last Sunday. It was an event where Mnkandla also presented his report.
“To have him present a report at the AGM shows that he is now involved in the day-to-day running of the club. That’s not proper,” charged Mpofu.
The former Zimbabwe Football Association (Zifa) vice-president also highlighted that the fact that Bosso’s treasurer Israel Moyo kept on saying “God help us, God help us” referring to their working relationship when he was presenting his report at the AGM held last Sunday, signalled that “a million things are not working, it meant that things were seriously wrong at the club.”
Meanwhile, Mpofu challenged the club’s football members to be rational when casting their votes for their new executive committee today. Mpofu is a former club chairman and the man who was his secretary is Elkanah Dube, now a board member.
Bosso members are set to go for polls today at their clubhouse. Incumbent chairman Johnfat Sibanda, Kenneth Mhlophe, Nodumo Nyathi and Edison Dube have already tabled diverse ideas and strategies meant to bring back dignity and delight to the Highlanders family. Three years ago, Sibanda edged Mhlophe to assume Bosso’s hottest seat.
Incumbent secretary-general Morgen Dube is facing two opponents in his bid to be re-elected for his position.
He has Nsikelelo Moyo and Raerburn Ndebele to contend with. Committee member, Mgcini Mafu, has decided otherwise on contesting, leaving Bhekumuzi “Mahii” Sibanda and Kindman Ndlovu to battle for the seat.
“Just like in any other clubs, they are Kingmakers who will naturally get emotional as opposed to being rational when it comes to voting. We want cool heads. There is a need to pick somebody you believe will do the job. You should not just vote for someone just because he is your drinking partner,” said Mpofu.
Bosso’s new executive committee will be expected to work hand in glove for the betterment of the club that has been eluded by the Castle Lager Premier Soccer League trophy for 18 years. Bosso have since 2006, played second fiddle to Dynamos, Chicken Inn, CAPS United, FC Platinum and Ngezi Platinum Stars in a bid to clinch the country’s top football gong. -@FungaiMuderere
Bongani Ndlovu