Sports / Local
Ndela to put his name for Highlanders re-election
07 Dec 2011 at 05:59hrs | Views
HIGHLANDERS executive chairman Themba Ndlela is set to put his name up for re-election during the club's annual general meeting next month that will see the positions of chairman, secretary and committee being up for grabs.
Although Ndlela refused to outrightly say that he is standing for the post, he indicated that he is now able to dedicate more of his time towards the needs of the club, as he is no longer in full-time formal employment.
Ndlela resigned from Sino-Cement Zimbabwe as a marketing executive to focus on his businesses that include a butchery and a hardware shop.
"The elections don't worry me because whether I am in office or not I am always dedicated towards working for Highlanders. Bosso is my home and I will not have any other home besides Highlanders.
"Even when I left being treasurer in 2005, I continued working for the team and I have no intention of stopping working for the club at any time," he said.
Ndlela all but confirmed his intention to take part in the elections saying he would not need a manifesto as his work will speak for him as he had already shown what plans he had for the club.
Although there were rumours of a coup to oust the current executive during this year's AGM, it never took place and Ndlela and his team were allowed to finish their terms after getting into office in 2009.
Several Highlanders fans, who were unhappy with the Bulawayo giants' seventh placing on this year's Castle Lager Premier Soccer League, have been clamouring for the ouster of the Ndlela executive. Others feel there was need to give them time to finish projects they initiated when they came into office.
Ndlela, who was speaking during a Press conference after an exhibition match featuring junior teams from Highlanders and Bantu Rovers at Barbourfields Stadium last Friday afternoon, said their efforts to kick start the junior policy were bearing fruit.
He said it was critical to focus on the juniors as it will assist the club in a number of ways.
The club created the Highlanders Juniors Academy at the beginning of the year after partnering with First Mobile Academy of Canada.
"We are focusing on junior development because it is a critical element that will bring solutions to a number of the club's problems. The academy will not only allow us to develop players that will come into the first team but players we can also market to other clubs, both locally and internationally," he said.
"We want to move away from a situation where we have to rely on buying players as this costs a lot. We will instead be selling players which will become a source of revenue for the club," he said.
Ndlela said they were aiming at selling three junior players to international football teams in three years time.
"We believe we can have three players moving to teams outside Africa within a three-year period. The academy will change the fortunes of the club both on the field, as we have a feeder programme and out of the field as we benefit financially from selling players," he said.
Ndlela said the academy would also ensure the club is not caught off-guard as they did when Joel Ngodzo moved to FC Platinum and the Zvishavane side paid them a transfer fee out of goodwill as the player's contract had run out.
The focus on juniors' development seems to be bearing fruit as the club has promoted several of the players into the first team and will not be holding trials for next season.
The exhibition matches were part of an initiative that will see First Mobile Academy profile, Highlanders junior players and invite them as guest players during various tournaments.
FMA director Isaac Mbedzi said there were several tournaments they would take part in that included the Gothie and Dan youth tournaments in Sweden and Denmark respectively and a number of Highlanders players would feature for the academy.
"I am glad that the partnership with Highlanders is bearing fruit and we are aiming at ensuring there are players from the club that make it internationally and into the national team," he said.
Although Ndlela refused to outrightly say that he is standing for the post, he indicated that he is now able to dedicate more of his time towards the needs of the club, as he is no longer in full-time formal employment.
Ndlela resigned from Sino-Cement Zimbabwe as a marketing executive to focus on his businesses that include a butchery and a hardware shop.
"The elections don't worry me because whether I am in office or not I am always dedicated towards working for Highlanders. Bosso is my home and I will not have any other home besides Highlanders.
"Even when I left being treasurer in 2005, I continued working for the team and I have no intention of stopping working for the club at any time," he said.
Ndlela all but confirmed his intention to take part in the elections saying he would not need a manifesto as his work will speak for him as he had already shown what plans he had for the club.
Although there were rumours of a coup to oust the current executive during this year's AGM, it never took place and Ndlela and his team were allowed to finish their terms after getting into office in 2009.
Several Highlanders fans, who were unhappy with the Bulawayo giants' seventh placing on this year's Castle Lager Premier Soccer League, have been clamouring for the ouster of the Ndlela executive. Others feel there was need to give them time to finish projects they initiated when they came into office.
Ndlela, who was speaking during a Press conference after an exhibition match featuring junior teams from Highlanders and Bantu Rovers at Barbourfields Stadium last Friday afternoon, said their efforts to kick start the junior policy were bearing fruit.
He said it was critical to focus on the juniors as it will assist the club in a number of ways.
"We are focusing on junior development because it is a critical element that will bring solutions to a number of the club's problems. The academy will not only allow us to develop players that will come into the first team but players we can also market to other clubs, both locally and internationally," he said.
"We want to move away from a situation where we have to rely on buying players as this costs a lot. We will instead be selling players which will become a source of revenue for the club," he said.
Ndlela said they were aiming at selling three junior players to international football teams in three years time.
"We believe we can have three players moving to teams outside Africa within a three-year period. The academy will change the fortunes of the club both on the field, as we have a feeder programme and out of the field as we benefit financially from selling players," he said.
Ndlela said the academy would also ensure the club is not caught off-guard as they did when Joel Ngodzo moved to FC Platinum and the Zvishavane side paid them a transfer fee out of goodwill as the player's contract had run out.
The focus on juniors' development seems to be bearing fruit as the club has promoted several of the players into the first team and will not be holding trials for next season.
The exhibition matches were part of an initiative that will see First Mobile Academy profile, Highlanders junior players and invite them as guest players during various tournaments.
FMA director Isaac Mbedzi said there were several tournaments they would take part in that included the Gothie and Dan youth tournaments in Sweden and Denmark respectively and a number of Highlanders players would feature for the academy.
"I am glad that the partnership with Highlanders is bearing fruit and we are aiming at ensuring there are players from the club that make it internationally and into the national team," he said.
Source - Sunday News
