Mhlophe seeks to emulate Gumede:
“If Gumede was to die today, it’s engraved in our hearts that he is the man behind the purchase of the club offices, he bought us a house in Luveve and he negotiated the lease for the clubhouse"
HIGHLANDERS chairman Kenneth Mhlophe says he wants to emulate former chairman Ndumiso Gumede and leave an indelible infrastructural legacy through the mine project to boost the club’s finances.
Mhlope is seeking re-election to his post at the club house this morning.
Highlanders were granted a licence by the government to start gold mining in Inyathi, Bubi District, a project that Mhlophe says could be the panacea to the club’s financial woes.
When he was Bosso chairman some years ago, Gumede was responsible for acquiring the club offices along Robert Mugabe Way, a house in Luveve suburb and the securing of a 99-year lease for the sports club along Masotsha Ndlovu Avenue in Bulawayo.
Mhlophe is being challenged by businessman Johnfat Sibanda and has since appealed to Highlanders members to vote him back.
“It’s now been three years (at the helm), two without football and your team is still intact under my leadership. What wrong have I done? There are projects that I have initiated, which I want to complete. I want to be like (Ndumiso) Gumede.
“If Gumede was to die today, it’s engraved in our hearts that he is the man behind the purchase of the club offices. He bought us a house in Luveve and negotiated the lease for the clubhouse,” Mhlophe said.
He added: “I also want to leave a legacy at Highlanders to say the man behind the club’s financial muscle is that man Mhlophe, who is behind the club getting the mining claim.”
When Highlanders elections were postponed in January due to the Covid-19 lockdown regulations, the board extended the executive committee’s tenure, much to the chagrin of a section of members and fans, who said the move breached the club’s constitution.
The club’s auditors last Sunday said decisions made by the executive during the time their tenure had expired will have to be ratified by the new executive.
This morning as per the constitution, Highlanders members are voting for a chairman ( between Mhlophe and Sibanda), a treasurer pitting incumbent Israel Moyo and Morgen Dube and a committee member.
The candidates for the committee member’s post are Bheka Sibanda and Mgcini Mafu.
Zimbabwe -born former England youth international Brendan Galloway has given the country double delight after pledging international allegiance barely a day after the Warriors booked a place at the next Africa Cup of Nations finals in Cameroon.
A promising prospect in English football a few years, Galloway has previously turned down Zimbabwe, with the hope of turning out for England, which he represented at junior level.
The 25-year-old played for Merseyside giants Everton in the English Premier League in 2015 and 2016 before his career took to a nose dive.
He is currently contracted to Luton Town in the English Championship.
Galloway was called up to the Warriors squad for the 2017 Afcon finals, but did not show up, choosing to be part of the England U21 set-up that was competing in the Euro U21 qualifiers.
Warriors coach Zdravko Logarusic named Galloway in his provisional squad ahead of the Botswana tie, but the player could not come because of Covid-19 trav