Sports / Local
Bosso supporter pledges car for Kaindu
31 May 2012 at 04:57hrs | Views
A doctor of philosophy law student in the United Kingdom, who is also a Highlanders member, has pledged a BMW 3 series car for use by the high-flying Highlanders coach Kelvin Kaindu.
His gesture was in response to members' cries on a social network.
Twenty-six-year-old Tshepo Mabalane Mabalane responded to supporters cries on social network site, Facebook, who felt it was not good for the coach to travel using public transport to matches and training sessions.
"It's basically not a donation but I will be letting it be used on a yearly basis, some more people could come with more gestures and we could do big things together," said Mabalane from his base on Tuesday.
Highlanders secretary Andrew Tapela confirmed that they did have a discussion with Mabalane who promised to ship the car from the United Kingdom by August.
"At the moment we cannot give an official position as the club until all the paperwork between us and Mabalane has been finalised and besides I am yet to brief my colleagues in the executive about the development. It's a welcome development though," said Tapela.
Mabalane said barring any eventualities, the car could be in Zimbabwe as early as next month but the latest should be August.
"All I want is for the club to guarantee me that the car will be well looked after, nothing else, because Highlanders is a big institution that cannot have its coach walking to work when even some of his players are driving," said Mabalane.
The gesture comes at a time when long time Highlanders benefactor, Botswana-based businessman, Ndodana Ngwenya, had also pledged to donate a car to the Highlanders coach and 10 soccer balls every month well before the season started.
At the time the gesture was seen by some sections of the media and Highlanders family as propping up the then chairman Themba Ndlela's campaign.
Ndlela eventually lost to Peter Dube in an election that had three candidates â€" Ndlela, Dube and city businessman Mandla Moyo.
The car, which broke down on the day it was delivered to then coach Mkhuphali Masuku last year, is still with Ngwenya.
"The truth is that I was badly hurt by those utterances that I was campaigning for Ndlela. Those that have been there before are aware that since long back I have always donated to Highlanders. I donated those 10 balls and Ndlela lost but did those balls follow him? They are still with Highlanders," said Ngwenya in an interview from Francistown yesterday.
He said the car was still outside his house and would be happy if the present executive led by chairman Peter Dube were to approach him about the issue so that he too explains his position and how embarrassed he felt about the allegations.
"What pains me too is that some members within the Highlanders hierarchy like the board, knew and still know what I have been doing for this club but chose not to defend me when the allegations that I was campaigning for Ndlela and forced him to employ Amin Soma-Phiri came out.
"I might have my candidate but if he loses, I will still support whoever would be in office, that is my nature and that is Highlanders' nature too," said Ngwenya.
His gesture was in response to members' cries on a social network.
Twenty-six-year-old Tshepo Mabalane Mabalane responded to supporters cries on social network site, Facebook, who felt it was not good for the coach to travel using public transport to matches and training sessions.
"It's basically not a donation but I will be letting it be used on a yearly basis, some more people could come with more gestures and we could do big things together," said Mabalane from his base on Tuesday.
Highlanders secretary Andrew Tapela confirmed that they did have a discussion with Mabalane who promised to ship the car from the United Kingdom by August.
"At the moment we cannot give an official position as the club until all the paperwork between us and Mabalane has been finalised and besides I am yet to brief my colleagues in the executive about the development. It's a welcome development though," said Tapela.
Mabalane said barring any eventualities, the car could be in Zimbabwe as early as next month but the latest should be August.
"All I want is for the club to guarantee me that the car will be well looked after, nothing else, because Highlanders is a big institution that cannot have its coach walking to work when even some of his players are driving," said Mabalane.
At the time the gesture was seen by some sections of the media and Highlanders family as propping up the then chairman Themba Ndlela's campaign.
Ndlela eventually lost to Peter Dube in an election that had three candidates â€" Ndlela, Dube and city businessman Mandla Moyo.
The car, which broke down on the day it was delivered to then coach Mkhuphali Masuku last year, is still with Ngwenya.
"The truth is that I was badly hurt by those utterances that I was campaigning for Ndlela. Those that have been there before are aware that since long back I have always donated to Highlanders. I donated those 10 balls and Ndlela lost but did those balls follow him? They are still with Highlanders," said Ngwenya in an interview from Francistown yesterday.
He said the car was still outside his house and would be happy if the present executive led by chairman Peter Dube were to approach him about the issue so that he too explains his position and how embarrassed he felt about the allegations.
"What pains me too is that some members within the Highlanders hierarchy like the board, knew and still know what I have been doing for this club but chose not to defend me when the allegations that I was campaigning for Ndlela and forced him to employ Amin Soma-Phiri came out.
"I might have my candidate but if he loses, I will still support whoever would be in office, that is my nature and that is Highlanders' nature too," said Ngwenya.
Source - chronicle
