The Sunday News
Mehluli Sibanda, Senior Sports Reporter
HIGHLANDERS secretary-general hopeful, Nkululeko Ndlovu is advocating for change management at the country’s oldest football club if members elect him early next month.
Ndlovu believes that as someone who is experienced in administration, he will bring change management to ensure that the club realises its full potential. In order for that to be achieved, Ndlovu is of the view that a Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats, commonly known as SWOT analysis needs to be carried out.
“As an administration major, I am bringing what we call change management in order for the club to realise its full potential which has not been the case for a very long time. Before you do change management in any organisation you also need to do a SWOT analysis, it’s only after that you are then able to come up with solutions that are meaningful,’’ Ndlovu said.
He pointed out that while this is part of his campaign for the secretary-general’s position, it is not everyone who is aspiring to hold the position who has the capability to carry out this business strategy.
“While this is a campaign, SWOT analysis is a scientific management process that requires expertise, it’s not everyone who wants to be a secretary-general of the club who is able to do this analysis in a proper way. It’s not just about an ambition, it’s about ability to do this and this ability is derived from knowledge. In other words, the club needs people who know what they are doing,’’ he said.
Ndlovu is convinced that Highlanders problems have gone on for too long unsolved because those in leadership positions have no comprehension of the challenges bedevilling the club.
“Most people don’t have a solution to the problem because in the first place they do not understand the problem. The reason why there is no solution is because people do not understand the problem. You need special knowledge to deal with this problem,’’ Ndlovu reckoned.
His appeal to the Highlanders electorate is that they should vote for people who can deliver when chosen into the club’s executive. This is because members have in the past been frustrated by those they have entrusted with taking the club forward when they do not meet expectations.
“Members want to elect an executive that is made up of men and women who can deliver, who are able to solve some of the critical problems that the club is facing but to a large extent they have been disappointed because their expectations have not come to fruition,’’ he said.
Ndlovu said with the Bosso constitution being clear on the roles of each executive committee member, those elected should work as a team to accomplish the desired outcomes.
“The Highlanders constitution clearly defines the roles of all the office bearers, that constitution is supreme. These office bearers should work as a team to achieve these desired results, anyone who goes into the executive must work as a team. The most important thing is each and every one of the office bearers must understand why they are there, once they understand there will be a change and a change for the better in terms of how the club performs in all its various departments,’’ Ndlovu said.
He will go up against Highlanders legend, Lawrence “Lofty” Phiri for what is the second most powerful position on the Highlanders executive after that of chairman. The 40-year-old said it was up to the Bosso members to choose who the better candidate between him and Phiri is. Ndlovu is, however, convinced that his qualifications in administration sets him apart from Phiri.
“It’s there for the electorate to decide who the better candidate is. It’s the knowledge, in modern day society, for any assignment, you need to have qualifications, more so if you are pursuing the post of SG which has an administration element. You need to have done some football administration courses which I have done.
You also need to be an academic in administration, you need a formal qualification in administration. Unless if you want an SG who is a place holder, then you can go for anything, but if you want an SG who is going to deliver then you need someone who has all these attributes. You need somebody with the energy, you don’t need a tired horse to run a race,’’ Ndlovu said.
A Highlanders ordinary member for eight years, Ndlovu said while he has not assisted the club financially, he has contributed to Bosso in his area of expertise.
“I have assisted the club in many ways, I pay my subscriptions religiously. That club doesn’t need financial assistance from its members, I am a management consultant, I have done a lot of management consultancy for the club to try and make it a modern club,’’ he said.
Ndlovu said he has served the Government of Zimbabwe in three ministries with his conviction being that he has done an exceptional job.
“I have served the Zimbabwean Government in three different ministries, Ministry of Education, Home Affairs and Local Government and Urban Development. To a large extent I have done well,’’ Ndlovu said.
He is a holder of a Diploma in Business Administration, Graduate Diploma in Education, Bachelor of Education degree, Master of Business Administration and various other certificates in administration, including in football management and administration.
A Business and Economic Development consultant, Ndlovu is a fellow of the Zimbabwe Institute of Management (ZIM) and past executive committee board member of ZIM. He has also lectured management courses at the institute.
Ndlovu is planning to issue out, in two weeks, a 10-point plan as a suggested turnaround strategy for the SG’s department. Should he lose the election, Ndlovu has undertaken to support whoever is elected to serve the club.
Highlanders will hold elections on 4 February to elect three members of the executive committee, that is chairman, secretary-general as well as committee member. The closing date for submission of nomination forms is 20 January. -@Mdawini_29
