IT appears the game of football will always be his life. Yours Truly, as renowned football administrator Ndumiso Gumede is affectionately known, is back in football office, after assuring many last year, that he was calling it a day. FORTUNE MBELE SPORTS REPORTER
The former Zifa vice-president now drives 70km daily from his homestead in Inyathi to sit at the offices of one of the country’s biggest football clubs at Number 50 Robert Mugabe Way as the chief executive officer with the mandate of turning round the fortunes of the club as it adheres to Fifa club licensing regulations.
Gumede is not new to Highlanders, where he has previously been chairman and is credited with the acquisition of the club’s assets which include the offices, which he will be manning for the next two years, the clubhouse now called the Highlanders Sports Club and a camping house in Luveve.
Gumede said he was still settling in as he looks to securing accommodation in the city.
“I am still finding my feet. You see, Highlanders have diversified into commercial entities. They are not only playing football, but there is the clubhouse and Manwele Beer Garden, which should generate income and augment the coffers of the club.
“Football players nowadays are not like those of the olden days, who would knock off from work and go to training. They now play football full time. We could say they are now professional and rely solely on football for their livelihood. They get their salaries and bonuses from the club,” he said.
“My mandate is too broad and it will include improving the operations of the club to the level required by Caf and Fifa for the club to be licensed. And so far it has been good. I have very supportive staff at the office, good working staff at the clubhouse and at Manwele. All we have to do is to try to be as professional as possible so that we increase patronage at these entities.”
