Former Bosso chairman under fire

HIGHLANDERS' former chairman Themba Ndlela has been accused of being a sour loser following comments on social network, Facebook, about a pending trip for four junior players to two European youth tournaments.

Ndlela came under scathing attack after he alleged that the current executive is not proactive in handling club issues .

The slanging match arose after a post by Isaac Mbedzi on the social network that the club executive was spurning him in his efforts to give an opportunity to  four junior players to feature in two European youth tournaments.

In a scathing attack on Facebook, Highlanders' life member Sibanda said Ndlela should gracefully accept defeat and stop attacking the current executive in public fora and approach them physically if he had any meaningful contributions to the club.

Mbedzi runs First Mobile Sports Academy in Canada and had worked closely with Ndlela's executive last year in a bid to revive the club's junior structures that have long played a crucial role at the football club.

Mbedzi's team will be travelling to Sweden and Denmark for the Gothia and Dana youth football tournaments, respectively.

Sibanda said the comments made by the two over the issue, were unfounded and mischievous and were not only meant to cast chairman, Peter Dube, in a negative light but were in bad taste considering the team's rich vein of form in the pitch.

"If Mbedzi wants to invite players, there is nothing wrong and as a Highlanders member I believe there is protocol to be followed. Why didn't he follow it and speak to the chairman directly rather than posting on social websites?" questioned Sibanda.

He added that some tournaments were dubious and if Mbedzi was genuine he should have communicated to the current executive and allowed them time to authenticate the two tournaments rather than make noise on facebook.

In an interview on Facebook, Mbedzi, however, said he had made direct and indirect contact with Dube to no avail and he said there was nothing sinister about posting on Facebook as he had done so on the Highlanders Academy page.

Dube, however, said Mbedzi had not contacted him directly but said he (Mbedzi) could have contacted the club on the issue. Sibanda said Ndlela should desist from tarnishing the image of the current executive.

"Ndlela is now just an ordinary member and he should stop making such pronouncements. When he was chairman, he did not accept other people's opinions and suggestions but now he wants his views to be the orders to the executive," he said.

Sibanda added Dube was doing a sterling job as shown by results delivered on the field of play and had brought unity to the club that had once been rocked by divisions, adding that "Ndlela should simply shut up."

However, Ndlela hit back saying it was preposterous for someone to suggest that former office holders of the club should not speak on club issues.

"I have been an office bearer at Highlanders for seven years and I cannot all of a sudden divorce myself from what is happening at the club. I don't think I can separate myself from issues at the club. I believe I am free to speak on whatever issue at the club and will do so at any time," he vowed.