Highlanders raise US$10 from more than 200 members!
Bulawayo soccer giants, Highlanders(Bosso) who are saddled with debts only managed to raise US$10 from the more than 200 members who attended the club’s annual general meeting in the city at the weekend.Bosso chairman Themba Ndlela confirmed the development but took a swipe at the club members for failing to donate at a time when the country’s oldest club is mired in a debt of a staggering US$144 000.
He said: “I am really saddened by lack of generosity of our members. I think as a people we ought to be ashamed of ourselves and if there is any reason for this then we ought to know. Is it possible that most people only come to meetings to criticise those in office but when asked to donate something to show their commitment they develop cold feet?
“Many of these are the very people who only appear from the woodwork in January and in June only. You will find a situation where those who have the right leadership qualities end up fearing to come into office because of the barrage of sometimes irrelevant questions. How do we build and maintain the system if all we do is to criticise without even offering solutions or showing our commitment?”
Ndlela said he was disheartened by the lack of benevolence on the part of the club members who were bent on discrediting those in office but were themselves not committed to solving the team’s financial crisis.
Ever since the club undertook an expensive trip to Sudan in 2008, members and sympathisers have been reluctant to assist the club. There is a feeling among the bona fide members that the team’s precarious position was self-inflicted.Some of the debts at Highlanders were inherited from the previous executive led by Ernest “Maphepha” Sibanda.
“We had asked members to make donations given the situation but if we are grouped together and no response is forthcoming, it is disappointing. How are we going to run the club?“Members must commit themselves to the club. We (the executive) represent the members and they are the owners of the club. When we call for donations, one expects the response to be positive. Members must lead by example. If they do not lead by example, who else will? We need them to be at the forefront of fundraising activities,” Ndlela said.
Asked if there was no trust in his executive, Ndlela rubbished the assertion saying the club had spent US$8 000 on audited accounts and there was no reason for that fear.“We have audited accounts. Why would we have audited accounts then? Why would we spend US$8 000 on accounts? All we are saying is that it is disappointing they are quick to criticise. If we fail after they have given us funding, we would have failed them,” Ndlela said.
During the annual general meeting, a resolution was passed for the establishment of a properly constituted disciplinary committee to deal with issues of finances owed to the club by a former executive, lent to him under unclear circumstances.Part of Bosso’s debt is owed to benefactor Retired Colonel Tshinga Dube’s son, Vusumuzi.
Highlanders borrowed the money for the trip to Sudan for a 2008 Caf African Champions’ League match.From the trip, players who took part are believed to be owed US$600 each in allowances.The club also owes former striker Ralph Matema US$5 000 for his 10 percent transfer fee after he moved to South African giants Orlando Pirates in 2007.
At the annual general meeting Nkomo said Highlanders might fail to kick the ball when the season starts because of the financial constraints and reiterated Ndlela’s sentiments that viability lay on the club’s members.In the club’s website Ndlela said his executive had come up with various fundraising activities, chief among them being the involvement of members.
“We are targeting at recruiting a minimum of 10 000 new members by the end of the year while also levying our old members a certain percentage,” he said.On match attendance the club hopes to draw at least 150 000 to Barbourfields Stadium by the end of the current season.
Posted by Sakhile Malaba
on February 8, 2010. Filed under Soccer,Sports.
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