Gossip + Sabotage = Bosso

Highlanders FC's sombre state of affairs on and off the field are linked to numerous reasons but chief among them gossip.

The rumours not only started during this difficult period for the oldest football club in the country but have been on for the past three years and well before the Peter Dube (current chairman) regime.

In short Bosso as the team is affectionately known has been run on rumours for years, something that is not healthy for any organisation that intends to grow and is supposed to be run as a business.

Rumours are the order of the day at Highlanders yet it is the only football club in the country that has its card carrying members voting for whoever they want to be at the helm of the team.

The football club is also a leading example of a democratic process as the card carrying members do not only vote for their leaders but have access to check and act as the watchdog of the club through an annual general meeting in which a platform is created for the members to raise any issues pertaining to the affairs of the club.

The structure is similar to that of Spain's FC Barcelona, perhaps the biggest difference of note is the business approach implored by the Spanish giants compared to Bosso who have only embraced the community club status ignoring the crucial business approach strategy in its operations, one reason why it's struggling financially and why its programmes are always based on rumours rather than on a clear strategic plan.

The removal of Zambian coach Kelvin Kaindu who was at the club for almost three years has exposed the divisions at the club; divisions that will seem as if created by his departure yet there have always existed.

Kaindu who was appointed by former chairman Themba Ndlela before he lost his post to the current chairman is understood to have been out of favour with Peter Dube during his tenure at the club.

This is something that the Zambian denied during his stay, yet some close to him say that he often confided on the difficult working conditions that he went through. The executive has also said that they worked well with Kaindu, with Dube at one stage saying that Kaindu is a coach who is always open and will say what he wants for the good of the team.

Those in the Zambian corner point to the appointment of assistant coaches for Kaindu as one of the reasons that made life difficult for Kaindu. They also site the "recruitment" of players by the executive instead of the coach as another of the reasons the executive failed the Zambian - yet some point out that Kaindu will be absent at key points like during pre-season, something that forced the executive to go ahead and prepare for the new season.

A former executive member once said the culture of the club has always been that the executive appoints the assistants in consultation with the head coach.

"It depends; you cannot let a foreign coach pick his assistant as he does not know the system, especially in his first year, there after it might be possible for him to do it on his own". Kaindu was now in his third year when the reshuffle was done for his assistants.

Sabotage is another of the rumours said to be destroying Bosso. It is believed that every new coming chairman at the club wants to change whatever system the previous leader would have put in place. This is made difficult by the fact that the system allows some of the executive members who worked with the previous chairman to remain in the set up. Allegations of ousted leaders frustrating the system through some of their remaining executive members have been rampant at the club. Some within the team's structures and outside are also said to be having a huge influence on the recruitment of players and at times on how they will perform.

This has killed the element of growth within the club as every new chairman always embarks on a new programme that only lasts for his duration in office.

The removal of the "soccer academy" started by Ndlela, the removal of former club treasurer Odiel Nkomo, the removal of the two assistants Bhekithemba Ndlovu and Tembo Chuma alongside team manager Amin Soma Phiri are some of the issues raised, seen as cleaning of the Ndlela regime.

But those on Dube's side argue that he was putting order and controls at the club, they point out that the "soccer academy" was going to benefit individuals and not the club. "Asila into okuthiwa yiacademy, silamaJuniors (We don't have an academy, we have juniors)", Dube explained to the members at the end of his first year at the helm of the club.

This is where the board comes in. It should be the one detecting the strategic plan for the executive to implement rather than the executive having a freeway in the running of the club, the current set up is allowing a new programme for the club every three years, instead of a long term plan monitored by the board and the club members.

Ndlela could have had his weaknesses but could Bosso not have improved the academy document to suit the club, was it not a good idea, would Bosso not be having a number of talented young players by now ready for the big stage as compared to the current complaints of senior players who are accused of just targeting the financial rewards at the club?

So the problems at Bosso are bigger than Kaindu, bigger than Mathe, but can be solved by its members and the board. The members need to make the AGM not just a routine meeting but discuss key issues to take the club to another level.

Alongside the board as the watchdogs they should monitor the executive's full implementation of the strategic plans set by the board. One doubts if there is any strategic plan to refer to at the moment at Bosso, maybe it's there, I wouldn't mind going through the document. The next strategic plan should be on the agenda in every AGM, I have attended Bosso's meetings in my capacity as a member of the media and have never seen (strategic plan) itemised on the agenda.

Maybe as the members vote next year, they might need to vote a neutral leader who is not linked to the behind scenes politics at the club. A neutral leader who will break the norm and in consultation with the board come up with a strategic plan for Bosso and run it as business while at the same time still maintaining the community club aspect, something that FC Barcelona is doing very well.

The silent brilliant minds at Bosso need to contest the elections rather than the continued recycling of leaders. For that to happen the silent brilliant minds need to be members as well as the thousands that claim to love this team. It is not in order for the same bunch of one hundred members to continue deciding the fate of a club followed by millions. The fans need to be turned into members and Bosso needs an effective board.