ASPIRING Highlanders secretary-general Innocent Batsani Ncube says he is confident he will win the post when the club holds its elections on February 1.
SUKOLUHLE MTHETHWA SPORTS REPORTER Ncube will contest against former team medic Emmet Ndlovu, Donald Ndebele, Faith Silandulo Dube, Pilate Mahlangu and Njabulo Bango.
Ncube was an ordinary member from 1998 until he became a life member in 2007 and served in the club’s marketing sub-committee.
“The motivation to contest comes from the fact that I personally believe that we should not shy away from responsibility,” he said.
“Our generation likes to be called the gazebo generation — those people who want to watch others while they are doing something and start to say those ones are not doing it very well — what others will call armchair analysts.
“When you are working in the executive and if you promise that you are going to do this then it means you are lying because when you are elected you will need to work collectively with other people.
“I promise to put key issues on the agenda, not hypothetical issues,” he said.
“We will be tabling tangible project proposals on the agenda, but we cannot guarantee they will be accepted because we will be working with other people.”
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Ncube said he was denied access to the voters’ roll, but believed he needed innovative ways to get to fans.
“I wrote to the board telling them that I wanted to access the voters’ roll,” he said.
“They responded saying the voters’ roll would not be accessible — we cannot print it out, we cannot photocopy it, we cannot get it via electronic means. The voters’ roll at Highlanders is just a list of names and card numbers. It’s meaningless. You need to use creativity to get to the people.”
He said supporters were important because they were the ones that sacrificed a lot in a bid to assist the team.
“There are unemployed supporters and members who make it a point to contribute something every time the season starts,” he said.
“When I was talking to them, I felt that we should not be careless with such an institution. That there are people who sacrifice the little money they have from whatever informal source, showed me the commitment some fans have. It showed me the enormity of the challenge that lies ahead.”
Cleopas Ngano, who is eyeing the committee member’s post said he believed that he could be the link between the team’s supporters and the executive.
Ngano will contest against the club’s current committee member Charles “Six One” Moyo, while Wisdom Mabhena is in contention for the post.
“The club needs a football commissar,” he said.
“This is necessary because last year there was the issue of the petition. It went to the media before it was discussed by the executive.
“Had there been a football commissar, he would have gone and discussed with those who wanted the petition at grassroots level and then he would have brought that issue before the executive. I am hoping that I will be able to play that role.”
He said there was need to re-establish supporters’ committees as they could be beneficial to the club.
“There is the issue of reviving supporters’ committees,” he said.
“From 2006 to 2008 Highlanders had the best following in away games. There were so many people who were following Highlanders. We could take advantage of that by encouraging supporters to be card-carrying members.
“If they are card-carrying members, then they will understand the Highlanders policy which frowns upon violence.”
He added: “There was once a South African supporters’ committee. They bought about 50 balls and they would pay DStv subscriptions for the clubhouse and the Luveve house (popularly known as Hotel California).
“This attracted so many people to be part of the institution so that it didn’t belong to five people, the executive. Supporters’ committees are no longer there. Even here in Bulawayo there is no supporters’ committee.”
Ngano emphasised the need to engage fans.
“Highlanders is a community team and it needs to be taken to the people,” he said.
“If the supporters feel they are part of the club, they won’t throw missiles. They will want to contribute positively not negatively.
“Committees will help engage supporters and discuss issues like hooliganism and how it affects the club. If supporters are card-carrying members, they would understand the effects of hooliganism.”
